Food Power & Justice Students in this course will learn to analyze power and justice in relation to the food system. We will explore cases in which groups of people are experiencing injustice in opportunities to make a living through food production or other food system activities, inequitable access to food and resources, inequitable health outcomes related to diet (e.g., diabetes, obesity), and silencing or lack of political participation. Students will investigate organizations of their choice that are working to remedy inequitable power relations in the food system, and will present their findings to the rest of the class.

Grassroots Perspectives on Sustainable Development Whose sustainability is threatened now, and why does it matter? How do the Sustainable Development Goals adopted in 2015 perpetuate existing power asymmetries that hurt marginalized people and block systemic transformation? We will critique the rise of “sustainable development" and explore the emphases of sustainability science to assess whether it is addressing the needs of marginalized people. Then we will turn to the articulation of alternatives to neoliberalism from social movements and post-development advocates. Are alternatives arising that offer radically different and more sustainable patterns of production and consumption to meet life needs? The course involves critique of original scientific literature and reports and interactive discussion.

Middlebury's Foodprint:  Introduction to Food Systems Issues Food systems encompass all activities, people and institutions determining movement of food from input supply and production (on land and water) through waste management. The dominant U.S. food system is responsible at least in part for some of the nation’s most troubling environmental and health challenges. What do we eat at Middlebury? What difference does it make? How do we know?  We will examine impacts of how Middlebury sources and consumes its food, and disposes of food waste, as a lens to understand sustainable food systems and how they can be achieved.

Agroecology In this course students will learn about agroecology as a set of practices, a philosophy, and a social movement. Agroecology takes advantage of natural processes to the greatest extent possible, using biological inputs rather than purchased pesticides and fertilizers. In addition to having major benefits for poor farmers in developing countries, it is attracting increased attention as an alternative to industrialized agriculture in wealthy countries. The course will include field trips to farms, films, and discussion of readings. We will leave between noon and 12:30 for some of the field trips, so don’t register for a class immediately before.

Food Policy Food policy is about how decisions are made in the food system, affecting who eats what, who grows food and how.  In this course, we will investigate important current topics in food policy, such as issues under consideration by the U.S. Congress (e,g., the Farm Bill, Child Nutrition Reauthorization); the United Nations; or other organizations.   Using a range of readings and academic background sources on food policy, students will debate contentious issues affected by policy (antibiotic resistance due to livestock feeding practices, incentives for healthy eating, limits on concentration in agribusiness, food safety rules, etc.).

Molly Anderson

Reviews and ratings for Molly Anderson at Middlebury College.Molly Anderson teaches Food Power & Justice, Grassroots & Sustainability, Intro to Food Systems Issues and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Molly Anderson good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

This class was really easy, with basically no assignments throughout the semester. There's just one paper, a presentation, and another short writing assignment. The content was boring and kind of repetitive, however.

I would highly recommend this course! An interdisciplinary dissection of food insecurity and food sovereignty. The course is centered around food, but the course material encompasses much broader ideas. Homework was literally just readings, and she discusses many of the ideas from the readings in class. Would recommend taking this class, but it is a bit lecture heavy. 

This is a broad course that covers a lot of important topics relating to sustainability and food systems. I have learned quite a bit about these subjects, and professor Anderson cares deeply about the subject.