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LSC-30088 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 17 March 2026

LSC-30088 - Food Security and Sustainability
Coordinator: David Hulse Room: HUX204B Tel: +44 1782 7 33640
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

This module explores how humans can secure a future of sustainable food production, with a focus on food from and for, animals. From shifting to plant-based protein sources in farmed, companion and display animals typically fed on animal protein sources to removing animals from the production process completely by growing meat in the lab.
By focusing on both the science underpinning the move to more sustainable food production and the commercial environment you will be able to evaluate the potential of a range of strategies to help humans feed themselves and their animals, sustainably in the future.
For the module assessment you will produce a business proposal for a selected food production process based either on Keele campus or at USM in Malaysia, depending on your preference. Additionally you will undertake a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats), analysis on a business proposal of one of your peers.
Thus not only will you acquire important scientific knowledge related to sustainable food production but you will apply this to business planning and evaluation, an important transferable graduate skill.

Aims
To explore challenges and potential solutions to make food production systems more sustainable. The module will focus on food production animals in addition to exploring sustainability issues around companion and display animal diets.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Discuss a range of food production systems in a scientific and commercial context.
: 1
Describe the threats to food security at a range of scales and critically evaluate strategies to make these production systems more sustainable.
: 1,2
Produce and evaluate a business proposal for a sustainable food production system set on Keele Campus or at USM.
: 1,2

Study hours

12 hours lectures
8 hours directed online learning
8 hours case studies
4 hours workshops
20 hours business plan preparation
10 hours SWOT analysis
88 hours independent study

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Assignment weighted 60%
Business proposal


2: Critique weighted 40%
SWOT analysis of a peer’s business proposal


The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 17 March 2026