Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - REM 357 D100

Planning for Sustainable Food Systems (3)

Class Number: 7368

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Fri, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    45 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Provides students with the tools to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current food system and will encourage them to critically analyze diverse solutions from both the global South and global North to build a more sustainable food system. Students will work collaboratively with the instructor to examine diverse and interdisciplinary approaches to food sustainability and strengthen their problem-solving skills. Students who have taken REM 363-3 "Special Topics" in Spring 2019 and Fall 2019 may not enroll in this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course explores the interdisciplinary impacts of our contemporary food system and how these are influenced by policy and planning. We will examine the food system through the ecological, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability using focused discussion and case study-based learning. Students will be introduced to diverse policy and planning approaches that are currently being implemented to address food sustainability challenges and develop their capacity to research, synthesize, and critically reflect on these. We will explore themes such as agroecology, Indigenous foodways, agri-tech innovation, food justice, climate change adaptation, urban food systems planning, and more.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Students will:

  1. Advance an interdisciplinary understanding of the ecological, social, and economic impacts of the food system and how these are influenced by planning and policy, 
  2. Develop their capacity to synthesize complex food system issues and to critically examine diverse policy approaches
  3. Gain practical experience in policy research and assessment.

Grading

  • Assignments 50%
  • Quizzes 20%
  • Midterm 15%
  • Participation 15%

Materials

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.