About
 Global food insecurity and hunger are present everywhere around the world: from urban slums and isolated communities in the developing world, to cities in industrialized countries. Defeating hunger and food insecurity is possible. It needs people who can think, evaluate, and then propose action. Choose the Global Food Security Program and be part of the solution! This major will provide you with a broad background, preparing you to work for governments and non-governmental organizations as well as in the public and private sectors.
This program offers you the unique opportunity to combine your studies in many different areas. You will learn about issues such as public health and food safety, international development, water resources and environmental sciences, as well as agriculture and nutrition. It is a combination of coursework and practical experience, including the option to participate in a hands-on experience in a developing country. You will meet the locals and work with them, developing projects in their communities. These activities are designed to help you deal with the challenges facing the world in achieving food security.
For more information, please contact the bsc-advisor.agenvsc [at] mcgill.ca (student advisor).
Specializations
Each specialization consists of 24 credits of courses (required and complementary) that provide a coherent package designed to prepare you for a future career in a given discipline.
Suggested Specialization:
â– International Agriculture: Understanding of agriculture as a central mechanism to help rural development, alleviate poverty and achieve food security, especially in the developing world; Option to experience a hands-on semester in a developing country
You will need to select at least one specialization. However, if you wish to broaden your training, you have the option of choosing to do two specializations. Click here to view the complete list.
Courses
The Global Food Security Major consists of a core of 42 credits plus a 24-credit Specialization.
To view the list of courses:
Program Requirement:
The program provides a global perspective on agriculture and food security, and addresses issues related to rural development, malnutrition, poverty and food safety with special emphasis on the developing world. Using a multidimensional and multidisciplinary approach, the program provides students with a comprehensive set of courses at ƽÌØÎå²»ÖÐ in combination with hands-on experience through structured internships and study abroad opportunities. The field experience (short courses, internships or full semester) includes project development in local communities, observing subsistence agriculture in situ and participating in various activities which sensitize students to the challenges that countries face to feed their people. Students will have the opportunity to develop the knowledge base needed for successful careers in government, non-government and international institutions in the areas of international and sustainable development, international research and project management, agri-business, and food and agriculture policy analysis.
For information on academic advising, see:
Program Prerequisites
Refer to "Faculty Information and Regulations" > "Minimum Credit Requirements", in this publication for prerequisites and minimum credit requirements.
Required Courses (33 credits)
-
AEBI 210 Organisms 1 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Biology (Agric & Envir Sc): The biology of plants and plant-based systems in managed and natural terrestrial environments. The interactions between autotrophs and soil organisms and selected groups of animals with close ecological and evolutionary connections with plants (e.g., herbivores and pollinators) will be explored in lecture and laboratory.
Offered by: Plant Science
- 3 hours of lecture and 2 hours of lab, per week.
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Instructors
- Mehran Dastmalchi
-
AEMA 310 Statistical Methods 1 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Mathematics (Agric&Envir Sci): Measures of central tendency and dispersion; binomial and Poisson distributions; normal, chi-square, Student's t and Fisher-Snedecor F distributions; estimation and hypothesis testing; simple linear regression and correlation; analysis of variance for simple experimental designs.
Offered by: Plant Science
- Two 1.5-hour lectures and one 2-hour lab
- Please note that credit will be given for only one introductory statistics course. Consult your academic advisor.
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Pierre R L Dutilleul
- Jaskaran Dhiman
-
AGEC 200 Principles of Microeconomics 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Agricultural Economics: The field of economics as it relates to the activities of individual consumers, firms and organizations. Emphasis is on the application of economic principles and concepts to everyday decision making and to the analysis of current economic issues.
Offered by: Agricultural Economics
- Fall
- 3 lectures
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Instructors
- Aurelie P Harou
-
AGEC 442 Econ of Int'l Agric Dvlpmnt 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Agricultural Economics: The course deals with economic aspects of international development with emphasis on the role of food, agriculture and the resource sector in the economy of developing countries. Topics will include world food analysis, development project analysis and policies for sustainable development. Development case studies will be used.
Offered by: Agricultural Economics
- Terms
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Aurelie P Harou
-
AGRI 411 Global Issues on Dev, Food&Agr 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Agriculture: International development and world food security and challenges in developing countries. Soil and water management, climate change, demographic issues, plant and animal resources conservation, bio-products and biofuels, economic and environmental issues specially in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Globalization, sustainable development, technology transfer and human resources needs for rural development.
Offered by: Animal Science
- Winter
- Two 2-hour conferences
- Terms
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Elsa Vasseur
-
AGRI 493 International Project Mgmt 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Agriculture: Principles and practice related to management of agriculture, nutrition and environmental projects within an international context. Case-studies and workshops drawing on expertise of development professionals from government and the private sector address techniques and resources for successful planning, implementation and evaluation within a multi-sectoral framework.
Offered by: Agricultural & Env.Sc.-Dean
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year
-
ANSC 250 Principles of Animal Science 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Animal Science: Introduction to the scientific principles underlying the livestock and poultry industries. Emphasis will be placed on the breeding, physiology and nutrition of animals raised for the production of food and fibre.
Offered by: Animal Science
- Fall
- 3 lectures and one 2-hour lab
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Instructors
- Kevin Wade
-
ENVB 210 The Biophysical Environment 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Environmental Biology: With reference to the ecosystems in the St Lawrence lowlands, the principles and processes governing climate-landform-water-soil-vegetation systems and their interactions will be examined in lecture and laboratory. Emphasis on the natural environment as an integrated system.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Instructors
- Khosro Mousavi-Torbati, Chih-Yu Hung
-
INTD 200 Intro to Int'l Development 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:International Development: An interdisciplinary introduction to the field of International Development Studies focusing on the theory and practice of development. It examines various approaches to international development, including past and present relationships between developed and underdeveloped societies, and pays particular attention to power and resource distribution globally and within nations.
Offered by: Inst for the St of Development
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Kazue Takamura
- Kazue Takamura
-
NUTR 207 Nutrition and Health 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Nutrition and Dietetics: Provides students who have a basic biology/chemistry background with the fundamental information on how macronutrients, vitamins and minerals are metabolized in the body, followed by application to evaluate current issues of maximizing health and disease prevention at different stages of the lifecycle.
Offered by: Human Nutrition
- Fall
- 3 lectures
- Corequisites: FDSC 230 [for students that have not taken the CEGEP equivalent OOXV].
- Prerequisites: AEBI 122 or BIOL 112 or CEGEP equivalent OOXU
- Restriction: Not open to students who take NUTR 200 or EDKP 292
- Restriction: Science students in physical science and psychology programs who wish to take this course should see the Arts and Science Student Affairs Office for permission to register.
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Instructors
- Linda J Wykes
-
NUTR 341 Global Food Security 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Nutrition and Dietetics: Food insecurity is one of the most critical issues humanity has faced in history. The magnitude of this phenomenon, reflected in its worldwide presence and in the number of individuals affected, makes it an imperative component of all nations' and of all internaltional agencies' agendas. Its complexity of determinants and its numerous consequences require the involvement of multipe disciplines and sectors. ƽÌØÎå²»ÖÐ undergraduate students as future professionals tackling global issues require an integrated and multidisciplinary training on food security.
Offered by: Human Nutrition
- Corequisite(s): NUTR 207 or permission of Instructor
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Hugo R Melgar-Quiñonez
- Hugo R Melgar-Quiñonez
Complementary Courses (9 credits)
-
AGRI 215 Agro-Ecosystems Field Course 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Agriculture: Through case studies and field trips, students will examine the problems and constraints within the Canadian agro-ecosystem, including the interrelationships among food production, the environment, agricultural policy and social issues. Research in this field of study will also be introduced.
Offered by: Plant Science
- This course carries an additional charge of $65.29 to cover the cost of transportation (bus rental) for local field trips to agricultural enterprises. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Instructors
- Caroline B Begg
-
AGRI 340 Princ of Ecological Agricult 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Agriculture: Focus on low-input, sustainable, and organic agriculture: the farm as an ecosystem; complex system theory; practical examples of soil management, pest control, integrated crop and livestock production, and marketing systems.
Offered by: Plant Science
- .
- Terms
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Caroline B Begg
-
AGRI 499 Agri. Development Internship 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Agriculture: Supervised internship to provide practical experience working on agricultural issues related to international development. The internship can take many forms, including work in a developing country, for an agency that focuses on international development, or on a research project that aims at solving problems faced by developing populations.
Offered by: Agricultural & Env.Sc.-Dean
- Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
- Students should take this course after having completed four semesters in their undergraduate program. It is the student's responsibility to find an appropriate internship, which must be approved by the instructor before registration is authorized.
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Julie Major
- Julie Major
-
ANSC 420 Animal Biotechnology 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Animal Science: Applications of animal biotechnology in agriculture, biomedicine and environmental preservation, including culture, manipulation and transformation of somatic cells, isolation of stem cells, reproductive biotechnologies, animal cloning by nuclear transplantation, production of genetically modified and gene-edited animals, and cell and gene therapies.
Offered by: Animal Science
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Instructors
- Karina Gutierrez
-
BREE 217 Hydrology and Water Resources 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Bioresource Engineering: Introduction to water resources and hydrologic cycle. Precipitation and hydrologic frequency analysis. Soil water processes, infiltration theory and modeling. Evapotranspiration estimation methods and crop water requirements. Surface runoff estimation as a function of land use modifications. Estimation of peak runoff rates. Unit hydrograph. Design of open channels and vegetated waterways.
Offered by: Bioresource Engineering
- Three lectures, one 2-hour lab per week.
- This course carries an additional course charge for field trips.
- This course carries an additional course charge of $20.01 to cover transportation costs for two field trips, which may include a visit to a national weather station and a trip to gain hands-on experience on monitoring water flow in streams.
- Terms
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Shiv Prasher
-
FDSC 310 Post Harvest Fruit&Veg Technol 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Food Science: The post harvest chemistry and physiology of horticultural crops as they affect quality and marketability, handling methods pre and post harvest, principles and practices in cooling, storage, transportation and packaging.
Offered by: Food Science&Agr.Chemistry
- Fall
- 3 lectures and one 3-hour lab
- This course carries an additional charge of $125.00 to cover the cost of transportation with respect to field trips. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Instructors
- Hosahalli Ramaswamy
-
NRSC 221 Environment and Health 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Natural Resource Sciences: Introduction to physical and social environments as factors contributing to the production of human health, with emphasis on the physical properties of the atmospheric environment as they interact with diverse human populations in urban settings.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Restriction: Not open to students who are taking or have taken GEOG 221.
- Note: This course is also offered as GEOG 221. Students enrolled in main campus programs register as GEOG 221; students enrolled in Macdonald campus programs register as NRSC 221.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year
-
NUTR 501 Nutrition: the Majority World 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Nutrition and Dietetics: Current nutrition-related issues in the Majority World, emphasizing young children and other vulnerable groups. The integration of a life science and social science perspective. The multiple causes, consequences, policies, and interventions related to current nutrition.
Offered by: Human Nutrition
- Fall
- One 3-hr lecture
- Prerequisite: A course in nutrition across the lifespan at the intermediate undergraduate level such as NUTR 337, or permission of the instructor.
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Instructors
- Grace S Marquis
-
PLNT 300 Cropping Systems 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Plant Science: Application of plant science and soil science to production of agronomic and horticultural crops. Use and sustainability of fertilization, weed control, crop rotation, tillage, drainage and irrigation practices.
Offered by: Plant Science
- 3 lectures and one 3-hour lab
- Prerequisite: AEBI 210
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Instructors
- Donald L Smith
-
PLNT 435 Plant Breeding 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Plant Science: Principles and practices of plant breeding, including reproduction of crop plants; plant hybridization; sources of genetic variation; selection methods used for self- and cross-pollinated crops and for clonally reproduced crops; breeding for diseases and pest resistance; applications of biotechnology in plant breeding.
Offered by: Plant Science
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year
-
SOIL 315 Soil Nutrient Management 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Soil Science: Plant nutrients in the soil, influence of soil properties on nutrient absorption and plant growth, use of organic and inorganic fertilizers.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Fall
- 3 lectures and one lab
- Prerequisite(s): ENVB 210 or GEOG 305 or SOIL 326 or permission of instructor
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Instructors
- Joann Whalen
-
SOIL 326 Soils in a Changing Environ 3 Credits
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Offered in the:Soil Science: Soil processes responsible for soil formation will be studied and the impact of changes to the physical and chemical environment will be discussed.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Fall
- 3 lectures and one 3-hour lab
- Prerequisite: A previous course in soil science, geography, geology or permission of instructor.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year
Specialization (24 credits)
Students must also complete at least one Specialization of 24 credits.
Careers
Career paths include:
â– International development
â– International research and project management
â– Policy Analyst - food and agriculture
â– Food safety and public health policies
â– Government, non-government and international institutions
â– Agri-business management
For more career options: