Module manager: Carolyn Auma
Email: c.i.auma@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is not approved as an Elective
This module will investigate the real-world challenges food sustainability presents in the context of food consumption. It will apply systems thinking approaches and integrate perspectives from behaviour change, nutrition and public health, sustainability, critical geography, and sociology. This module will critically investigate the health, environmental, social and economic drivers and impacts of food consumption, examine the role of different stakeholders (e.g. retail, markets, schools, local authorities etc), and identify opportunities to achieve sustainability outcomes. Students will work collaboratively in groups with others from different backgrounds on a case study based on a real-world challenge, for example to explore issues relating to implementing healthy and sustainable diets.
This module aims to:
• examine the essential theories, concepts, approaches and tools used in sustainable consumption studies, psychology, nutrition, and human geography in relation to food consumption;
• critically evaluate the multiple meanings of ‘sustainable’ and ‘healthy’ diets in the Global North and Global South;
• apply systems thinking to critically investigate what people eat and why;
• take an interdisciplinary approach to formulating successful solutions for healthy and sustainable diets.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following Module Learning Outcomes:
MLO1: Demonstrate critical understanding of healthy and sustainable diets in different global contexts, and with respect to various attributes e.g. geographical, socio-economic etc.
MLO2: Critically evaluate the health, social, environmental and economic impacts and drivers of sustainable food consumption
MLO3: Formulate and propose appropriate solutions for healthy and sustainable food consumption practices across a range of socio-economic contexts to enhance food security.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
SKLO1: Decision making: Make decisions that will improve sustainability of the food systems (Work Ready, Enterprise Skills)
SKLO2:Critical thinking: gather, analyse and interpret information and perspectives from a range of sources analyse, to aid understanding, inform opinions, and anticipate problems or challenges (Work Ready, Sustainability, Academic Skills).
SKLO3:Systems thinking:
recognise and understand how parts of the food system work together, including analysing complex levels of the food systems (e.g., environmental, economic, and social) and how the interdependencies across these can affect sustainable food consumption (Sustainability Skills)
SKLO4: Working and communicating with others: valuing ideas, co-ordinating effort and supporting others (Work Ready, Sustainability, Enterprise Skills)
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drop-in Session | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fieldwork | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Lecture | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| Seminar | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| Private study hours | 124 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 26 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150 | ||
1. There are opportunities for formative feedback during the group discussions, formative assessment, and activities in the lectures, seminars and guest lecture sessions.
2. Formative group oral presentation based on specific topic. Feedback will inform summative assessment.
3. There will also be drop-in sessions during which students can receive support towards their summative assessment from the teaching team.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Coursework | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team