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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "NS 220"
COURSE NAME: "Food and Agriculture"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2014
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Margaret Kneller
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: MA 100 or MA 101
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Current Issues, focusing on Food and Agriculture. This is a survey course of agriculture, emphasizing the important food plants of the 21st century. The aim is to learn key processes which lead to the wide array of foods, which are available in developed countries. “Food and agriculture” is a multi-disciplinary subject; we take the ecological viewpoint (organisms and lifecycle requirements). Topics covered in this class will prepare students for then understanding related political and economic aspects of food production.

Food crops which are the basis of many diets are covered: we start from the events of domestication, pass through the Green Revolution, and end with major crop commodities (such as bananas and coffee) being cultivated by “agribusiness” or also by “sustainable” farming methods. We also look at major issues related to agriculture today: for example, the development of biofuels which may use food stocks, and diseases and pests which threaten important monocultures.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Domestication of major animals and crops (timing and place, in order to set the scene for when humans made major steps in controlling and managing their food supply).
Common Food Commodities which are important today.
Grains (concentrating on wheat, corn, and rice—where grown, population served, cultivation requirements).
The Green Revolution.
Food for Export, e.g. Coffee, Cocoa, Bananas.
Examples of, and the Pros/Cons of Genetically Modified (Crop) Organisms—Amflora, Golden Rice, Insecticide Sweet Corn.
Sugar: crop sources.
Fertilizers, synthetic and organic.
Oils: palm oil, …olive oil.
Minor but Essential Crops, e.g. Leafy Green Vegetables.
Crop Pests, Diseases and Pesticides, imminent threats: e.g. wheat rust.
Modern Industrial Agriculture to Organic Farming, examples.
Biofuels or Food: ethanol from sugar cane and corn, palm oil.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
We learn about important food crops: from their cultivation and production, through to their use by consumers.  We look at the major achievements in agriculture of the 20th century, and try to anticipate the important uses and vulnerabilities of plant crops in the 21st century. 
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
Various Titles, see the weekly schedule.Various Authors, see the Weekly SchedulePublications are available on line, or a Single Copy will be in the Shared Files Folder.   

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Midtermvocabulary, short answer, describe graphs and figures30
5 Short PapersApproximately every two weeks, there will be an assignment, related to the material, in which you will write or present your analysis. One page, typed, with references on second page. Papers due electronically, no late papers accepted. Grading guidelines are in the shared files folder: "GradingGuidelinesNS220Fall.docx". 30
Class Discussion, Short AssignmentsRelevant classroom discussion and questions.10
FinalVocabulary definitions, short answers, describe graphs and figures, and essays.30

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AThis type of work demonstrates the ability to learn the concepts and theories presented, and also to begin to make analysis. During class discussion and in written tests, the student shows clear evidence of a significant amount of reading, and comprehension, of the required and recommended articles and tex
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised. There is usually a demonstration of ability to learn the concepts and theories presented. During class discussion and in written tests, the student usually shows evidence of a significant amount of reading, and comprehension, of the required and recommended articles and texts. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading of the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material. Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included. In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Class attendance is required, more than three unexcused absences will lower the grade by one half (e.g. B to B-). More than seven unexcused absences will lower the grade by one whole point (e.g. from B to C).  Please refer to the university catalog for the attendance and absence policy.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

Syllabus and Readings, Week by Week.
IMPORTANT:  I will try to arrange a field trip to one or two relevant agencies or locations.  Perhaps, the field trip may be scheduled outside regular class hours, I will do this in exceptional circumstances.  If the field trip occurs outside regular class hours, then I will strongly encourage students to attend, and also propose an alternative assignment for those students who cannot adjust their schedule.

IMPORTANT: Final exam according to JCU Exams Schedule.  For Fall 2014, the Final Exams will be scheduled from December 6 to 12, inclusive; notice that Final Exams may be held on a Saturday or Sunday.  I cannot reschedule the date of the Final exam.

Syllabus Week by Week
Week 1: Common Food Commodities Today. Students, choose your food (and country).Reading: http://faostat.fao.org/site/339/default.aspx , or USDA Global Crop Production Analysis http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/

Week 2: Domestication of major animals and crops (timing and place, in order to set the scene for when humans made major steps in controlling and managing their food supply), the First Agricultural Revolution.Reading: Jared Diamond, “Evolution, consequences and future of plant and animal domestication,” in Nature, 2002 [myJCU].  Optional reading: K Brown, New Trips through the Back Alleys of Agriculture, Science, 27 April 2001, Vol 292, p. 631-633 [myJCU].

Week 3 and 4: Grains (where grown, population served, cultivation requirements)
Wheat, domestication and cultivation. Reading: 1. Curtis, BC. 2002, “Wheat in the world” in Curtis, BC et al. (eds.) Bread Wheat: Improvement and Production (FAO Plant Production and Protection Series No. 30), Rome, FAO, pp. 1–19. [online
http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/y4011e/y4011e04.htm] AND 2. Oregon State University website. OSU Extended Campus: World food crops. Week 4 (Unit 7). Wheat: Triticum aestivum and related species. [online http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/css/330/four/index.htm ]

Corn. Reading: The Omnivore’s Dilemma, by M Pollan (Chapters 1 and 2, but you might enjoy reading more). On reserve in Frohring Library.

Rice. Reading: Oregon State University website. OSU Extended Campus: World food crops. Reading: “Week 4 (Unit 8). Rice - Oryza sativa” [http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/css/330/four/index2.htm]. Optional Reading: International Rice Institute articles on Rice Hybrids, these articles use the concepts of “hybrids,” “lines,” and “yield.” [myJCU folder]

Week 5: pollinators and pests. Reading: FAO, “The importance of Bees in Nature,” [myJCU]; 2. Honey Bees and Colony Collapse Disorder, USDA [online http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=15572]; 3. J Tylianakis, “Global Plight of Pollinators,” 2013 [myJCU], and 4. the latest news, e.g. “Neonicotinoids Let Virus Thrive in Bees,” December 31st, 2013, Chemistry World, S. Hadlington [myJCU]

Week 6: The Green Revolution. Reading: “Green Revolutionary,” by John Pollock, Technology Review, published by MIT, January/February 2008 [myJCU], and “Biotechnology and the Green Revolution Norman Borlaug” at http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/borlaug.html .

Week 7: Midterm

Week 7 and 8:  Bananas.
Readings: Banana knowledge at
http://www.promusa.org/tiki-custom_home.php, OR, C. Canine, “Building a Better Banana” at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/banana.html, OR M. Peed, “We Have No Bananas,” the New Yorker, 2011 [in myJCU].

Week 8: Fertilizers, synthetic and organic.
Reading: “Nitrogen and Food Production: Proteins for Human Diets,” by Vaclav Smil, Ambio Vol. 31 No. 2, OR “The oil we eat: Following the food chain back to Iraq,” by Richard Manning at www.harpers.org/TheOilWeEat.html , OR “Food production: Agriculture wars,” by Javier Blas in London and Leslie Hook, “…Potash Supplies…”, Financial Times, August 27, 2010, The Haber Bosch Process [all in myJCU].

Week 9-10: Examples of, and the Pros/Cons of Genetically Modified (Crop) Organisms—Amflora, Golden Rice, Insecticide Sweet Corn.
Readings:  SEE references in the power point lectures put on line, and these articles:
·        
“GM Crops, a World View,” Science magazine, 2011 [myJCU];
·        
a good short introduction is “Instant Expert: GM Organisms,” by John Pickrell, in New Scientist, September 2006 [MyJCU];
·        
a longer introduction at http://www.bionetonline.org/English/Content/ff_leg1.htm ;
·        
the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) reports at http://www.isaaa.org/
·         Golden Rice at http://www.goldenrice.org/
·         and “Golden Rice: Lifesaver?” by A Harmon, August 24, 2013  www.nytimes.com/2013/08/25/sunday-review/golden-rice-lifesaver.html [also in myJCU]

Readings addressing the emerging issue of Herbicide Resistance are presented at:
·        
http://newsroom.dowagro.com/press-release/dow-agrosciences-statement-about-usda-announcement-regarding-draft-environmental-impac
·        
 http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/2014/01/eis_ge_products.shtml
·        
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/biotechnology/2014/faq_brs_eis_ge_products.pdf ,
·        
 http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2014/01/usda-prepares-greenlight-chemical-war-weeds

Week 11: Sugar, crop sources and sugar substitutes.
Reading: The Biology and Ecology of Sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids), Australian government, December 2004—a long document, peruse to get the essential facts [myJCU]; optional http://web.unbc.ca/chemistry/CHEM110/artificial.pdf

Week 12: Food for Export, e.g. Coffee, Cocoa.
Coffee from the Lavazza Training Center [myJCU]

Week 13: Oils: palm and canola.
Palm Oil Readings: 1. Oregon State University website. OSU Extended Campus: World food crops, Week 7 (Unit 14), Oil Crops, at
http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/css/330/seven/index2.htm; 2. UNCTAD Palm Oil Commodity Profile http://www.unctad.info/en/Infocomm/AACP-Products/Palm-oil/.
Optional:  L. P. Koh and D. Wilcove, “Is oil palm agriculture really destroying tropical biodiversity?,” 2008 [myJCU] and
http://www.facesofpalmoil.org/farmer/6/fao_warns_palm_oil_certification_scheme_may_serve_as_indirect_trade_barrier

Week 13: Biofuels or Food, ethanol from sugar cane and corn, palm oil.
Reading: D. Graham-Rowe, “Beyond food versus fuel,” Nature, 2011; Carter and Miller, “Corn for Food, not Fuel,” OpEd in NYT, 2012 [both in myJCU]

Week 14: Modern Industrial Agriculture to Organic Farming, examples.
Reading: possibly chapter from “The Omnivore’s Dilemma,” by M Pollan (Chapters 8 and 9), OR “Is There Such a Thing as Agro-Imperialism?” by ANDREW RICE, The New York Times, November 22, 2009.