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Program Overview

The University of Copenhagen offers a course titled "Urban Food Systems in a Changing Climate" (NPLB20003U). This course focuses on the challenges and sustainable solutions in plant and food production in urban environments.

Course Description

The course explores the problems and sustainable solutions in current and future plant and food production, including sidestreams in local, urban, and peri-urban systems. It covers various topics, such as:

• Urban agriculture and its importance
• Sustainable food systems
• Climate change and its impact on food production
• Innovative production methods, including vertical farming and hydroponics

Course Objectives

The overall objective of the course is to enable students to work theoretically and experimentally with new, local, urban, and peri-urban production systems. The course aims to improve productivity, resource utilization, food quality, and environmental and climate effects.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the course, students are expected to:

• Describe the significance of plant genetics, nutrition, and physiology in relation to growth, quality, and resource utilization in urban farming systems
• Explain the principles of planning and establishing a food system in an urban environment
• Discuss the concept of sustainability in relation to urban and new food systems
• Identify problem areas related to national and global plant and food production in urban environments and propose solutions using analysis methods and new technologies

Course Structure

The course consists of a theoretical part (30%) and an experimental and project-oriented part (70%). The experimental part includes working with traditional farming systems in an urban context and newer, more technology-based farming systems, such as vertical farming.

Teaching Methods

The course includes:

• Lectures
• Theoretical exercises
• Project work
• Group work
• Excursions

Assessment

The course is assessed through a:

• Group presentation of a project report and examination in the report and the course's theoretical subjects
• Individual questions during the examination

Requirements

• The course is open to students from various bachelor's programs, including Natural Resources, Geography and Geoinformatics, Biology, Food and Nutrition, and more
• It is recommended to have taken a course in basic plant biology or plant-environment interactions

Course Information

• Language: Danish
• Course code: NPLB20003U
• ECTS points: 7.5
• Level: Bachelor
• Duration: 1 block
• Placement: Block 4
• Skemagruppe: B
• Course capacity: 35

Department and Faculty

• Department: Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
• Faculty: Faculty of Science

Contact

• Course responsible: Kirsten Jørgensen
• Course coordinator: Kristian Holst Laursen
• Teachers: Several from the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, as well as external guest lecturers.