Food Security (Taught)

Access to good and healthy food is a basic human right.

However, in 2023, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that about 28.9% of the global population was food insecure. Since 2019, the prevalence of food insecurity has increased globally. Several challenges are generating this complex situation, such as:

• food access and affordability

• food availability and utilisation

• climate shocks

• finite resources

• political crises

• globalisation

• global shocks as the Covid-19 pandemic

• cost of living crisis

• urbanisation

• global food shortages

• increasing food prices

This MSc programme explores important issues related to food security. It is designed to specifically address the social and economic aspects of food security, such as the intersection of food production, distribution, consumption, agriculture, environment, nutrition-related policies, and human behaviour.

There is an increasing demand for qualified experts in this field to contribute to policy creation and legislation in food production. Furthermore, companies need food security experts to assess the Agri-industry by tracing their development strategy to improve food production and distribution in a sustainable way.

What will I learn?

Our interdisciplinary MSc will provide you with knowledge and problem-solving skills on the broad topic of food security. You will receive training on quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques that will help you to understand and measure the effect of the drivers of food insecurity. In addition, you will learn how to design effective policies to improve people's food security in developed and developing countries.

Through this programme, you will explore issues such as:

• the transformation of the food system

• food supply chain

• diet and nutrition

• technology and innovation

• trade

• food waste

• conservation

• circular economy

• climate change

• income distribution

• gender inequality

• influencing human behaviour

You will also learn about the role of genetics in addressing sustainable food production and consumption, the importance of underutilised crops and superfoods and the increasing pressures on resources such as water and soil, among other topics.

You will explore how food security has become a critically important issue for societies around the globe. It concerns not only food production systems and supply chains but also development issues such as land tenure and the exchange value of commodities.

Is the MSc for me?

We welcome students from a wide range of backgrounds, from agricultural and environmental science to economic or political science, among others. This programme is suitable for students who want to better understand how to analyse food security at local and global levels and are interested in developing skills to work towards reducing food insecurity and making the food system more sustainable.

Food safety and hygiene

Please note: the MSc Food Security is not a suitable qualification for those mainly interested in Food Hygiene, Food Safety or related areas.

Please read about this programme on our website carefully and ensure you understand the nature of the programme before you apply. Applicants who do not show a clear understanding of the programme will not be accepted.