PHCA9518 Food Democracy for Public Health Practice

2016

4.5

1 x 3-hour seminar fortnightly
1 x 6-hour independent study weekly
1 x 3-hour on-line tutorial fortnightly

1 of PHCA8518, PHCA8919 has been successfully completed

This topic helps students explore the interconnections between people and food systems by providing them with an understanding of democratic values and how these can be used to advocate for change and citizen control in our industrialised food system. Students are first exposed to the global movements currently progressing food democracy. Then, by exploring individual, household and community initiatives (e.g. cooking skills programs, home food gardens, farmers' markets, 'slow food' movements etc) students critically examine strategies believed to allow consumers to take control of their food supply. Finally students look at the potential of food democracy to provide active citizenship, participation and empowerment.

This topic aims to:

• provide an understanding of food democracy, democratic values and how these relate to the broader food system

• examine the ways in which food democracy operates at various levels

• explore ways in which practitioners can use food democracy to empower citizens to better develop strategies respond to existing and emerging problems in public health nutrition.

On completion of this topic, students should be able to:

• Discuss the key dimensions and theoretical underpinnings of food democracy, including the how democratic principles apply to food

• Critically appraise practical examples of food democracy in terms of the locus of action/control (individual, family, community, nationally, globally)

• Discuss participatory approaches which empower people to exert control in their efforts to shape and govern the relationship with the food system

• Discuss the knowledge and skills needed to transform consumers into food literate citizens via meaningful civic participation and political engagement.

• Have an understanding of what we can do as citizens to promote food democracy in our communities and nationally so the food system we have serves our needs