Italy - United Nations
Dates (tentative): May 6 - June 8, 2008
Group leader(s): Prof. Aysen Tanyeri-Abur
Course description:
The course will be based primarily in Rome, with a one week excursion to Campania and Basilicata regions south of Rome.
Food economics and politics through Italian food culture
The course is aimed at providing an understanding on how food is produced, distributed and consumed in the world today using Italy as a live laboratory to observe these concepts. It is no coincidence that the three UN agencies specialized in Food and Agriculture are based in Rome, and this dialogue will help understand the Italian food culture, and how that has influenced local economics and food policymaking over time and today. In addition, factors driving the rapid evolution of the way food is produced, processed, distributed and consumed, and its implications will be discussed and analyzed in the context of the global food environment. Review of current empirical evidence on the world food situation and discussion of issues such as hunger, food security, obesity and food safety are also included.
While focusing on conceptual elements of basic economics and policy, the course will rely on excursions in the region to understand gastronomic heritage; food production in agriculture, livestock and the food industry; visit intermediate and final markets of food to study the distribution and consumption of food; get a feel for food policy making at work in Italy, Europe and the international arena through visits to Italian ministries, the UN food agencies and non-governmental and civil society organizations (NGO/CSOs)working on food issues.
The course will be structured as follows:
1.
Lectures by Prof Tanyeri and local professors and experts on basic economics and policy, food production, consumption, diet and gastronomy, and other lectures related to the visits below:
2.
Markets in and around Rome, farms and markets in Lazio, Campania and Basilicata provinces to learn about:
*agricultural production typical to the regions visited (mozzarella di buffala, wine, other cheeses (caciocavallo di podolico), vegetables (tomatoes and other) and livestock).
*industrial production (high tech packaging of fresh fruits and vegetables)
*distribution (wholesale market in Rome)
*consumption (retail markets - open air markets and supermarkets in the various areas to be visited)
3.
Agricultural and food policymaking. Visits to the Italian agricultural ministry, International NGO/CSO Planning Committee for Food Sovereignty (IPC), SlowFood, ActionAid, and the three UN Food Organizations in Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and WFP (World Food Programme)
Cost of program: Most major costs will be covered by summer tuition. There may be an additional program fee depending on length of stay in-country, airline ticket prices, or other extra expenses. Students will be responsible for meals and spending money.
Application Process: Download the Dialogue of Civilizations application, enrollment form, and waiver form. Turn in the completed forms to Cynthia Rapp in the International Affairs Office, 270 Holmes Hall. The faculty leaders for this Dialogue will conduct interviews of applicants after the deadline.
Application Deadline: January 14, 2008
Disclaimer: Some information posted here is tentative and subject to change based on costs and dates of available flights. The website is updated as current information becomes available.
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