Diet for a Green Planet, 15 ECTS, is an International Study Unit and aims to provide a grounded understanding of the food system from farm to fork and how the food system is connected to climate change mitigation and eutrophication, support biodiversity, rural development, human health, and rural development.
The study unit will further develop an ability to suggest feasible and relevant methods to promote a transformation towards a sustainable food system, based on the pillars of Diet for a Green Planet and aims to empower individuals who are active in the food system to become conscious actors.
The study unit Diet for a Green Planet in Novia Open UAS is an education developed to support "Lifelong learning" and at the same time an elective study unit for agricultural students in Novias Degree Programme in Bioeconomy.
The study unit Diet for a Green Planet, 15 ECTS, consists of the following three courses:
- Diet for a Green Planet - Understanding Sustainability in the Food System, 5 ECTS
- Diet for a Green Planet - Interventions to Promote Healthy and Sustainable Food, 5 ECTS
- Diet for a Green Planet - Project Development, 5 ECTS
Target group:
- Persons interested in sustainability issues or transformative leadership
- Sustainability developers and planners
- Persons working in the food system
- Food processing producers (artesans)
- Persons working or tender with public food, catering and restaurants
The student:
- will get familiar with the key concepts: Ecological Regenerative Agriculture, Sustainable Food Societies, Diet for a Green Planet (DGP), Planetary Boundaries, Agenda 2030, and Ecological Footprints.
- has the competence to understand and reflect on the ecological balances on a farm and on the sustainability of food products using the concepts Ecological Regenerative Agriculture and Diet for a Green Planet.
- has the ability to suggest feasible and relevant methods/Improvements to (a) promote a sustainable local food system (b) improve the healthiness, and impact on the environment, and (c) to reduce food waste.
- has the capacity to move from observation to reflection to action and to develop a feasible project plan for implementing actions that further sustainability in the local food system.
Diet for a Green Planet is delivered as part-time online studies. Students need access to computer or pad with internet connection, headphones, a microphone and a webcam. The main language in the study unit is English. Other languages can be used in some in parts of the discussions and in counselling, for example when focusing on specified issues for a certain region or country.
The Syllabus was developed as an initiative connected to the Diet for a Green Planet Flagship project in European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. The syllabus is based on experiences from the ”Diet for a Green Planet Change Leader” course for Diet managers, chefs and other professionals in the food system at Stensund Folk High School in Sweden. The study unit is a cooperation between Novia and BERAS International, that also helps municipalities in Sweden as consultant to develop the Diet unit of the future and supports SME in the food sector with sustainability and is an active partner in the UN Core Initiative Organic Food System Program.
Prerequisites:
No prerequisites
Cost: 200€.
This course of 15 credits consists of the following 3 study units:
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Diet for a Green Planet - Understanding Sustainability in the Food System, 5 ECTS
Competence objectives of the study unit:
By the end of the study unit, the students are expected to / will:
- Be familiar with the key concepts: Ecological Regenerative Agriculture,
Sustainable Food Societies, Diet for a Green Planet, Planetary Boundaries,
Agenda 2030, and Ecological Footprints. - Have the competence to describe, exemplify, and reflect on local food in season.
- Have the competence to understand food products using the concept Diet for a
Green Planet. - Have the competence to understand and reflect on the ecological balances on a farm using the concept Ecological Regenerative Agriculture
Content of the study unit:
- Introduction to the concepts: Planetary Boundaries, Agenda 2030, Baltic Sea
Region Strategy, and Ecological Footprints. - Introduction to the ecosystem on a farm - what makes it regenerative?
- Introduction to the Building Ecological Regenerative Agriculture and Society
(BERAS) concepts: Diet for a Green Planet, Ecological Regenerative Agriculture,
and Sustainable Food Societies. - Tracing of food products from fork to farm
- Local food in season.
- Visit to a farm and description of a farm in a systems perspective.
Time:
24.8.2023 - 14.12.2023
Assessment criteria
Approved / Failed
For approval, active participation, completed tasks, active co-creation, and projects
initiated by the student are counted towards the final grade.
Points are awarded for each accomplishment and the study unit is approved by passing a minimum of 100 points.
This allows for different ways to prove that the competence requirements are met.
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Diet for a Green Planet - Interventions to Promote Healthy and Sustainable Food, 5 ECTS
Competence objectives of the study unit
After the course the student will have:
- An ability to suggest feasible and relevant methods/improvements to (a) promote
a sustainable local food system (b) improve the healthiness, and impact on the
environment, and (c) to reduce food waste. - A better understanding of, and deepen your capacity for, listening and
perspective-taking.
Content of the study unit
- Study visits including a farm, a food processor and a catering or large kitchen.
- The art of listening training
- Assignments for
a) healthy and environmentally sound food
b) protein shift and
c) with minimizing waste. - The Baltic Sea Region Strategy will be consulted in the work with the assignments.
Time:
14.12.2023 - 21.3.2024
Assessment criteria
Approved / Failed
For approval active participation, completed tasks, active co-creation, and initiatives
are counted. Points are awarded for each accomplishment and the study unit is
approved by passing a minimum of 100 points. This allows for different ways to
prove that the competence requirements are met.
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Diet for a Green Planet - Project Development, 5 ECTS
Competence objectives of the study unit
After the course the student will have:
- The capacity to move from observation and reflection to action and to develop a
feasible project plan for implementing actions that further sustainability in the
local food system. - The ability to listen deeply and reflect on one’s own role, including room for action,
as a change agent in the local community and (global) society, and be able to
reflect on one’s own driving forces in relation to a sustainable leadership. - The ability to reflect over one's own organisation, in relation to its ability to move to action.
Prerequisites
Study unit 1: Diet for a Green Planet - Understanding Sustainability in the Food System
and study unit 2: Diet for a Green Planet - Interventions to Promote Healthy and Sustainable Food.
Content of the study unit
- Leadership exercises to deepen self awareness and listening skills
- The study unit is defined by an exam project. A template is offered as a
guidance. The project is to make a plan for a transformation that the student has a real drive to
accomplish and it is a real life issue in the students' work place. The studies are
arranged to support your preparation of this transformation. - Stakeholder interviews
- Deep listening and constructive feedback.
Time:
21.3.2024 - 20.6.2024
Assessment criteria
Approved / Failed
Approval is assessed by completed project work and live presentation.
Active co-creation, participation and initiatives are also counted.
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Contact person:
Lars Fridefors, lars.fridefors@novia.fi