Course summary

This course focuses on the analytical and communication skills needed to contribute to the achievement and sustaining of food security in the 21st century. It can be studied full time over one year or part time over two years. Food security has become a critically important issue for societies around the globe. With rapid growth in the area, there's an increasing demand for qualified experts to help create the policies and legislations that protect and govern food production and the supply chain. This unique MSc has the scope and multidisciplinary approach to address the multiple issues surrounding food security, as well as offering an understanding of the technical, agronomic, environmental, economic and socio-political factors that influence it. Theoretical studies are given a practical backdrop through day visits to farms, food banks or food factories around Scotland and a study tour, which allows applying some of the principles to real-world scenarios. This study tour has previously visited places such as Italy, Malaysia, Kenya, and Peru. The purpose of the study tour is to see, in person, how the food system works in different countries and to identify how stakeholders and international institutions engage with the food security challenges explained in the classroom. Typically, it is an intense experience full of excitement, enthusiastic discussions, and personal growth. The MSc Food Security degree is awarded by the University of Edinburgh.