GEO 2315 - Hungry Planet: Global Geographies of Food

I have been the instructor of record for Hungry Planet: Global Geographies of Food since Spring 2023. The course examines global agricultural systems through a geographic perspective, encouraging students to think critically about how the geography of food production relates to environmental, political and social issues. I created all of the course materials, including lectures, assignments, assessments, and supporting resources, with the goal of building an engaging and interdisciplinary learning experience.

A central component of the course is the development of practical geospatial skills. Through a sequence of five scaffolded mapping assignments, I teach students how to create and interpret maps using ArcGIS Pro and real-world agricultural datasets. These assignments guide students through foundational skills, such as data visualization and map design, allowing them to engage directly with the geographic patterns of crop production. By working with authentic data, students gain both technical proficiency and a deeper understanding of how spatial tools can be used to analyze global food systems.

Course Description

Although humans have primarily relied on agricultural production for approximately 12,000 years, the types of foods grown and the places where they are grown, or the geography of crops, has changed considerably over time. These changes in diets have occurred along with dramatic changes to the methods of agricultural production, food consumption and globalization, which also shape the past and current global geographies of food. Learning about the past and current geographies of crops can help us understand the factors that shape our current food system and provide insights into how it may change in the future.

This course will explore where our food comes by integrating geographic, historical, environmental, and economic perspectives. Through this general education course students will learn about the botanical attributes that characterize the most important families of crops, and how these characteristics influence the environmental ranges of crop production. We will also explore the past and current centers of production for key crops, and learn geographic concepts and mapping skills to in order to describe and visualize the geographies of crop production. Finally, we will discuss how the geography of crops relates to current food system issues and how the geography of crop production may change in the future. Students will apply the concepts and skills they have learned in the course by creating a presentation on a crop of their choice.