GDEV 5060

Equity and Justice within Global Agricultural Research for Development

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2022-2023.

Agricultural research for development is a complex, multidisciplinary field, with a complicated relationship to social equity. Domestically, agriculture was central to slavery, and the land-grant system has targeted both primarily-white and historically Black universities in often unequal ways, and collaboration is not the norm. Internationally, colonial and neo-colonial inequities continue to shape development dynamics. Addressing such inequities while working within complex agricultural systems calls for interdisciplinary approaches and an understanding of historical inequities. While often not seen as interrelated, agricultural research cannot contribute to equitable social outcomes if it fails to address ongoing inequities within research systems themselves. This seminar course explores how agricultural research can lead to more equitable outcomes for farmers and societies, and how legacies of racial disparities affect who participates. 

When Offered Fall.

• Describe and situate how historical inequities have shaped modern agricultural research and education models in U.S. higher education as they relate to domestic and international development work.
• Explain issues of equity and justice in domestic and international food systems, and describe some strategies for addressing these through applied research.
• Identify key concepts related to applied interdisciplinary research in international agricultural development work.

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