Food and Society Concentration
Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies
What is the Food and Society Concentration?
Everyone needs to eat, yet most of modern society is no longer connected to the sources of their food, including agricultural production. If you’re interested in learning more about the governance of food supplies and tackle issues like food insecurity, this program is for you.
In this major, you’ll explore issues related to agriculture, consumption and sustainable food. You’ll incorporate social, political, cultural, economic, ethical and feminist perspectives when looking at issues that face contemporary food production. This flexible concentration allows students to specialize in their area of interest.
Supporting Food Security
In 2023, the U of A was ranked second in its efforts to address the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #2: Zero Hunger. Teaching and research in ALES contributes to this area, such as developments in food safety at the Agri-Food Discovery Place, crop improvement and efficiency research in the plant biosystems unit, and protein and animal health studies at South Campus.
Featured Courses
Introduction to food justice and feminist food politics.
An overview of animal welfare as it relates to both food and companion animals. Discussion of the scientific and ethical components that underlie our evaluation of the quality of life that animals experience.
The moral, conceptual, existential, environmental, socio-political, and spiritual issues raised by the practice of hunting by humans.
Land-management issues that influence the sustainability of both agriculture and the land resource. Role of ecological processes in determining sustainability and the development and adoption of practices that facilitate long-term viability of both agriculture and biophysical resources. The concept of the agro-ecosystem and application of ecological principles to agricultural land management. Use of environmental indicators to measure and predict long-term sustainability of agricultural land management.
Feature Careers
Agricultural commodity inspectors make sure agricultural products meet government standards for processing, storing, producing, and transporting food. Average salary: $53,226
Community health representatives consider social factors that can affect health. They work with health care providers to promote wellness, protect health, and prevent injury and illness. Average salary: $41,099.00
Source: Government of Alberta, Occupations in Alberta
Careers
- Community Relations Specialist
- Sustainability Coordinator
- Environmental Education Specialist
- Policy Analyst
- Environmental/Indigenous Relations Advisor
- Environmental Communications Officer
- Public Servant
- Sustainability Consultant
- NGO Administrator
Check out the U of A's Environmental Career Guide for more options.
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