Sustainable Food Systems

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Sustainable Food Systems

Instructor: Anna Ball, Ph.D.

6,026 already enrolled

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8 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

39 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

8 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

39 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Explore the pillars of sustainability in food production and examine grand challenges in food, nutrition, economics, environment, & energy systems.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

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Assessments

9 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 8 modules in this course

Throughout this course, you will delve into the intricate details of the food production system through a system-thinking lens. You will examine the grand challenges faced by the food, fiber, and natural resource industries, and their repercussions on people, the planet, and profit. By the end of this course, you will have a clear understanding of the concept of systems thinking, be able to explain the three key pillars of sustainability and link these pillars to social, environmental, and economic systems.

In this module, learners will explore the complexities of the food system, examine the ways systems thinking influences our world, and examine some of the grand challenges and emerging issues in the food, economic, environmental, and energy systems.

What's included

7 videos6 readings1 assignment

7 videosTotal 37 minutes

Course Overview6 minutes
Meet Your Instructor | Dr. Anna Ball2 minutes
Module 1 Introduction1 minute
Defining the Food System6 minutes
Defining Systems Thinking6 minutes
Distinguishing Local from Global Challenges in the Food System8 minutes
Exploring Grand Challenges and Emerging Issues in Food, Economic, Environmental, and Energy Systems8 minutes

6 readingsTotal 82 minutes

Syllabus 10 minutes
Interviewees in this Course10 minutes
Systems Approach: What and Why15 minutes
Sustainability is all about systems-thinking--here's why15 minutes
Reframing the local-global food systems debate through a resilience lens30 minutes
Grand Challenges Overview2 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Module 1 Quiz | Food System as a System30 minutes

In this module, learners will investigate the three pillars of sustainability and their relationship to the food system, explore major challenges and emerging issues, and examine the ultimate goal of derisking the future.

What's included

7 videos2 readings1 assignment

7 videosTotal 28 minutes

Module 2 Introduction1 minute
Defining Sustainability6 minutes
Identifying the Three Pillars of Sustainability3 minutes
Describing Sustainability: People8 minutes
Describing Sustainability: Planet5 minutes
Describing Sustainability: Profit4 minutes
Module 2 | Summary1 minute

2 readingsTotal 37 minutes

Definitions: Sustainability and Food Systems12 minutes
Sustainable Food Systems: Concept and Framework25 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Module 2 Quiz | Sustainability in the Food System30 minutes

In this module, learners will define and explore the types of food production systems, examine the production and processing systems in the food systems, and investigate the roles of consumers and producers.

What's included

7 videos2 readings1 assignment

7 videosTotal 45 minutes

Module 3 Introduction1 minute
Defining Food Production Systems6 minutes
Describing Food Production: Animal Systems7 minutes
Explaining Food Production: Crop Systems 15 minutes
Examining Production to Processing in the Food System7 minutes
Defining the Roles of Consumers and Producers in the Food System9 minutes
Module 3 | Wrap-up1 minute

2 readingsTotal 14 minutes

More Farmers Adopt Conservation Tillage6 minutes
Farmers Are Breeding Heat-Resistant Cows8 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Module 3 Quiz | Food Production Systems30 minutes

In this module, learners will investigate issues related to world hunger, access to nutritious food, food deserts. Learners will also explore the emotional and cultural connections to food.

What's included

5 videos4 readings1 assignment

5 videosTotal 30 minutes

MODULE 4 | Introduction1 minute
Investigating Issues in World Hunger7 minutes
Examining Access to Nutritious Food9 minutes
Describing Food Deserts5 minutes
Exploring Emotional and Cultural Connections to Food7 minutes

4 readingsTotal 33 minutes

Perennial Rice: Plant once, harvest again and again15 minutes
Perennial Grains Could be the Future of Regenerative Agriculture5 minutes
What is food security?3 minutes
The Environmental Justice Movement10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Module 4 Quiz | Food and Nutrition30 minutes

In this module, learners will explore environmental grand challenges and investigate issues related to water and soil quality.

What's included

3 videos2 readings1 assignment

3 videosTotal 24 minutes

MODULE 5 | Introduction1 minute
Exploring Environmental Grand Challenges10 minutes
Investigating Water and Soil Quality 13 minutes

2 readingsTotal 30 minutes

Here's How Much Food Contributes to Climate Change20 minutes
Wastewater to Energy: New Treatment Process Can Improve Biorefinery Sustainability10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Module 5 Quiz | Food and the Environment30 minutes

In this module, learners will examine issues in land access and food production demands, explore potential uses of non-productive land, and investigate the influence of a consumer-driven economy.

What's included

4 videos3 readings1 assignment

4 videosTotal 30 minutes

MODULE 6 | Introduction1 minute
Examining Issues in Land Access and Production Demands14 minutes
Exploring Uses of Non-Productive Land5 minutes
Investigating the Consumer-Driven Economy11 minutes

3 readingsTotal 28 minutes

The Dollars and Sense of Sustainability10 minutes
Can sustainability standards effectively mitigate food system challenges?12 minutes
How Consumers And Farmers Can Transform Food Systems6 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Module 6 Quiz | Economics of the Food System30 minutes

In this module, learners will explore grand challenges in energy and technology within the food system, examine the roles of switchgrass and carbon in our environment, and investigate issues in energy and technology.

What's included

4 videos2 readings1 assignment

4 videosTotal 25 minutes

MODULE 7 | Introduction1 minute
Exploring Grand Challenges in Energy and Technology within the Food System5 minutes
Examining the Roles of Switchgrass and Carbon9 minutes
Investigating Issues in Energy and Technology10 minutes

2 readingsTotal 32 minutes

What is renewable energy?12 minutes
What is Sustainable Energy and Why Do We Need It?20 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Module 7 Quiz | Energy and Technology in the Food System30 minutes

In this module, learners will examine the complexities of and decisions associated with food, food production systems, and sustainability. Learners will explore specific ways he/she/they can contribute toward solutions for grand challenges in sustainability and sustainable food systems.

What's included

5 videos2 readings2 assignments

5 videosTotal 25 minutes

MODULE 8 | Introduction1 minute
Investigating Complexities of Food and Food Decisions8 minutes
Identifying Complex Issues of the Food System and Sustainability8 minutes
Examining Food and Sustainability6 minutes
Course Summary2 minutes

2 readingsTotal 80 minutes

Final Assessment | Part 1 20 minutes
Final Assessment | Part 260 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

MODULE 8 Quiz | Examining Grand Challenges; Moving Toward Solutions30 minutes
Final Assessment | Analysis30 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(16 ratings)

Anna Ball, Ph.D.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

1 Course6,026 learners

Offered by

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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Reviewed on Sep 18, 2024

This course is really helpful to understand food systems in present times especially with context to sustainable energy, renewable energy, perennials, landscape diversity, circular economy etc

Reviewed on Jul 28, 2026

I take agriculture for granted. But it helped create civilization, and we are all dependent on food for survival.

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