Course Description -- Food Policy: Digital Cultivation

The policies that govern our food systems -- influenced by a wide range of actors representing a breadth of interests -- bring serious effects to bear on other related systems, not least health care, education, taxes and the environment. Furthermore, our relationship to food is a constant topic in the media, to the extent that many of us spend more time ingesting media about food than we do preparing -- or even eating -- food in real life. As the media landscape continues to evolve, so does the conversation between industry spin doctors, nonprofit activists, citizens and government officials, as do so many other key public policies (energy, transport, etc). This class will explore best practices in "good food" advocacy and will look at the ways federal and state agencies engage – digitally and otherwise – with activists, producers and consumers. We will explore at least one each regional and national case study. Students will work individually or in small groups to create a digital campaign around a specific piece of food policy