LAW5494 · Law and food

Overview

In this unit, you will examine whether and how law can address the complex problems that arise across the food system, from production to consumption. You will critically analyse legal and policy issues in their broader social, cultural, economic and political contexts, and considers gaps and opportunities for law and policy reform to respond to food system problems. You will engage with often contested issues and evaluate the role of law in driving food systems change. You will focus on different case studies of food systems problems and explore the legal issues they raise. Through these case studies, you will critically consider how the law currently operates to shape food systems, how well it addresses the various stakeholder concerns, values and perspectives at play, and the potential synergies and unintended consequences of different legal interventions. Topics may include the regulation of food safety, pesticides, food labelling and food marketing, as well as contemporary and emerging challenges such as ultra-processed foods, new food technologies, the social and environmental impacts of agri-food supply chains, and corporate power in food systems.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Identify and compellingly apply relevant areas of law that can be used to address food systems problems.
2. Demonstrate advanced understanding of how well different laws and regulations address the needs and interests of various stakeholders and respond to food systems problems.
3. Communicate effectively and persuasively to articulate investigation, interpretation and evaluation of legal issues in food systems for a range of audiences.
4. Investigate and critically analyse complex issues relating to law and food, and make coherent and persuasive recommendations for policy and/or law reform in a range of contexts.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit typically comprises of a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study applicable to a 6 credit point unit. Learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning, and online engagement

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.