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

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 16 September 2026

LSC-30088 - Food Security and Sustainability
Coordinator: Toby Bruce Tel: +44 1782 7 34072
Lecture Time:
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

You will learn how to critically understand and evaluate sustainable food systems, with a focus on production animals, crops, and wider food production contexts, including companion and zoo animal nutrition where relevant. You will develop knowledge of key scientific, ethical, environmental, and commercial factors that influence food security, and gain an understanding of how animal, human, and environmental health are interconnected through a One Health approach. You will also learn to analyse threats to food security at local, national, and global scales and evaluate strategies that improve sustainability, animal welfare, and public health outcomes. In addition, you will develop practical skills in designing a sustainable food system proposal and applying structured critical evaluation through a SWOT analysis. These activities will strengthen your ability to think analytically, use evidence effectively, communicate ideas clearly, and apply systems thinking to real-world food production challenges.

Aims
This module aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in achieving sustainable food systems. It will focus primarily on production animals and crops, while also considering the broader implications of sustainability. The module will adopt a One Health perspective, integrating animal, human, and environmental health considerations into the study of food security and sustainable practices.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Critically discuss different food systems, considering scientific, ethical, and commercial dimensions.: 1
Analyse threats to food security at local, national, and global scales, and critically evaluate strategies to enhance the sustainability of these systems.: 1,2
Design and evaluate a sustainable food system plan, applying principles of animal welfare, environmental stewardship, and public health.: 1,2

Study hours

ACTIVE LEARNING HOURS: 70 hours
Lectures/Seminars: 2 hours X 10 weeks
Tutorials: 2 hours X 2 weeks
Tutorials: 1 hour X 1 weeks
Revision session: 2 hour X 1 week
Drop-in sessions: 1 hour X 3 weeks
3 hours X 10 weeks engagement with weekly asynchronous materials related to weekly topics
5 hours preparation with directed tasks for X 2 tutorials
INDEPENDENT STUDY & ASSESSMENT: 80 hours
Assessment 1 (Sustainable Food System Proposal):
50 hours preparation and writing
Assessment 2 (SWOT Analysis):
30 hours preparation and writing

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Assignment weighted 60%
Sustainable Food System Proposal
Students will develop a detailed proposal for a sustainable food system, to be considered by the Food and Agriculture Organization FAO as an example of best practice. The proposal should consider animal welfare, environmental sustainability, economic feasibility, and public health implications. Students may choose a real or hypothetical site (e.g., a local farm, campus facility, or case study) provided by the module and will submit their work using a provided template. Maximum 2,000 words.

2: Assignment weighted 40%
SWOT analysis
Students will undertake a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of a sustainable food system proposal. This assessment encourages critical engagement with alternative strategies and allows students to reflect on the proposal approaches. Students will review a published proposal provided within the module. Analysis should be structured with approximately 300 words per section, plus an overall conclusion (total 1000 words).

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: 16 September 2026