NES2109 : Global Agri-Food Supply Chains
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Albert Boaitey
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
The overall aim of the module is to engage students with the topic of the global food supply chains and increase students’ awareness of supply chain mapping, risk assessment and management. The course will also provide an introduction to the business environment within which international agribusiness firms operate. Examples will be used throughout the module allowing students to evaluate ‘real-world’ situations.
Outline Of Syllabus
1. Introduction to global food supply chains
2. Measures of supply chain performance
3. Supply chain mapping and sourcing strategies
4. Supply chain risks
5. Supply chain risk management [policy risk, demand risk (food safety), coordination(strategies)]
6. Supply chain analytics
7. Moving goods between countries – international transportation, types of seaborne trade and cargoes, air freight, insurance, free-on-board versus cost-insurance-and-freight, perishability and live cargoes.
8. Future trends in international agribusiness - Rising global population, food security, globalization, regulatory complexity, competition for important inputs to agricultural production, etc.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 25:00 | 25:00 | Take home group portfolio writing (70%) and presentation (30%). |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 2 | 4:00 | 8:00 | Preparation for workshops and associated formative assessment. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 12 | 1:00 | 12:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 12 | 1:00 | 12:00 | Module lecturer will give students relevant reading to prepare for lectures. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 1 | 4:00 | 4:00 | Workshops will provide an opportunity for students to practice their analytical skills and undertake formative assessment exercises. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | Drop-in surgeries for students to ask questions and seek guidance on the assessed exercise. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 36:00 | 36:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Module talk | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | N/A |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Students will have full access to all reading materials. Class discussion, Q/A sessions, debates will be encouraged during class. Lecture material is comprehensive, extensive and requires substantial student study outside the classroom.
The assignment is set specifically to test learning objectives, and to encourage students to practice their critical analytical skills and extend and apply their knowledge and understanding to be able to achieve these outcomes. Students are given a range of opportunities to critically engage with materials from both the academic and practitioner literature.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 1 | M | 70 | Written assignment |
| Oral Presentation | 1 | M | 30 | Portfolio presentation |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | M | Essay on global supply chain mapping and risk management strategies. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The summative assignment will consist of a report and an in-class presentation in which the students will be tested in a range of skills including knowledge and understanding of global food supply chains as well as critical analytical skills and report writing skills. The formative assessment provides an opportunity for students to practice their analytical problem-solving skills in a guided workshop environment.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- NES2109's Timetable