EA 039 PZ -Introduction to Food Systems

Institution: Pitzer

Description: Food is unique among all products created, bought, sold, traded, shipped, and consumed: we are what we eat after all. Food connects us to one another, to our families, cultures, and histories. It is a major part of our economy - every day of our lives is impacted by food system workers. Today, the increased availability of cheaper food, larger portion sizes, the reliance on high calorie, processed ingredients, the types of food available in many communities, government policies, and lifestyle choices have led to an epidemic of food-related health problems. At the same time, many Americans struggle with food insecurity due to wage stagnation and economic disruptions. Food systems are both major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and are particularly vulnerable to climate change. The sustainability of human civilization hinges on the resilience of our food systems. In this course, we develop an indepth understanding of food systems - the people, processes, and resources that move our food from farm and ocean to plate. Students learn how to analyze food system issues, from food production and distribution to food insecurity and public policy.

Prerequisite(s): See the current course schedule for registration restrictions.

For up-to-date information on current course offerings and details, please refer to the Pitzer class schedule on MyCampus2 Portal .