Food as Commons or Commodity? The Case for Agroecology

This course will review the political and public policy framework of our current food system, and examine the gaps where the growing public interest in a sustainable and healthy food system could be met with public policy approaches rooted in public trust or other public interest doctrines and laws.  The class will be grounded in the core principles of agroecology, defined by the UN FAO as “a holistic and integrated approach that simultaneously applies ecological and social concepts and principles to the design and management of sustainable agriculture and food systems.” Students will learn about the US Farm Bill, and about the various supportive doctrines for agroecology, their social-political context, and real-world application.