Checking date: 29/04/2025 23:57:10


Course: 2025/2026

Food security and land policies
(19173)
Master in Global Sustainable Development and Global Governance (Plan: 473 - Estudio: 376)
EPC


Coordinating teacher: CARMONA PIDAL, JUAN ANTONIO

Department assigned to the subject: Social Sciences Department

Type: Electives
ECTS Credits: 3.0 ECTS

Course:
Semester:




Objectives
The course on food security and land policies focus on the intricate interplay among agricultural practices, land use, and the global imperative of ensuring universal food security. This course aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted factors that influence food production, availability, and access. Emphasis is placed on examining the role of land policies, particularly land reforms, and their impact on shaping food production systems. A significant portion of the course is dedicated to analyzing the critical role of land use, land tenure systems, and land policies in the context of food security. Special attention is given to exploring market access and value chains, which play a pivotal role in achieving food security, particularly for family farmers. The course investigates the influence of food prices, volatility, food policies, regulations, and market access on the overall food security scenario. Moreover, the course encompasses a wide range of topics, including the examination of gender bias, particularly regarding property rights in developing countries. Additionally, the vulnerability of agricultural systems to the adverse effects of climate change is explored.
Description of contents: programme
Session 1: Introduction to Food Security and nutrition in developing countries. Session 2: Land tenure and Agricultural Development: Session 3: land reforms and land policies in developing countries. Session 4: Market Access, Value Chains and food security in developing countries Session 5. Gender, food security & land policies: Session 6: Climate Change and food security. Session 7. Presentations of case studies.
Assessment System
  • % end-of-term-examination/test 40
  • % of continuous assessment (assigments, laboratory, practicals...) 60




Basic Bibliography
  • Banerjee, A. V. and E. Duflo . The Economic Lives of the Poor.. Journal of Economic Perspectives 21(1): 141-167..
  • Burguess & Donaldson . Can Openness Mitigate the Effects of Weather Shocks? Evidence from India¿s Famine Era. AER, 100-449-453. . 2010
  • Deaton & Drèze. Food and Nutrition in India: Facts and Interpretations. Economic and Political Weekly, 44-7. 42-65. . 2009
  • Dragusanu, R, D.Giovannucci & N.Nunn. The Economics of Fair Trade¿. Journal of Economic Perspective, 28(3), 217-36. . 2014
  • Griffin, Kachman & Ichowitz. Poverty and the distribution of land. Journal of Agrarian Change.
  • MICHAEL ALBERTUS. LAND POWER. HACHETTE. 2025
  • McGuirk & Nunn . Transhumant Pastoralism, Climate Change and Conflict in Africa. Review of Economic Studies. 2024
  • Sen, Amartya . Poverty and Famine. An Essay on Entitlement and Deprivation.. OXFORD, CLARENDON. 1981
  • World Bank . Supporting smallholder competitiveness. World Development report. . 2008

The course syllabus may change due academic events or other reasons.