Cairo University
Faculty of Agriculture
Biotechnology Program (English)
Contemporary International Issues (AGR 202)
First Term 2023/2024
Course Description:
This course examines the global challenges affecting food production, focusing on current issues (Food Security) that illustrate these challenges. Students will investigate a range of topics including water, energy, and environmental aspects, regional disparities in the ability to meet basic human needs, and protection of the natural environment in an attempt to help students to appreciate the natural resources, to provide them with some historical perspective on the present status of the planetary environment; to give students opportunities to analyze specific environmental quality issues and to familiarize them with the ideas and practices of managing resources and environments according to the principles of sustainable development.
Grading
Oral Exam ............................................ ............................. 10%
Activities and Mid Term Exam (Nov. 15, 2023) ................. 20%
Final Exam ………….................................................…….. 70%
Course Content (Lecture Notes in pdf)
1. Introduction. Climate Change (variation): (Video) ................................................ (Week 1)
1.1 Natural causes, evidence, Climate change in Earth history, Sea-level rise (presentaion in pdf)
1.2 Human causes, evidence, greenhouse gases, Precipitation Changes, Nile Delta, Egyptian Projects (presentaion in pdf)
2. Plate Tectonics and Earthquakes Week 1 (presentaion in pdf) ............................... (Week 2)
3. Water Issues: ............... (Week 3)
2.1 Global water balance and Scarcity (presentaion in pdf) (Video)
2.2 Water resources in Africa (presentaion in pdf) (Video)
2.3 Water resources in the Arab World (presentaion in pdf)
2.4 Water resources in Egypt, Nile water balance,
projects, and Aswan High Dam (presentaion in pdf) (Video)
4. Transboundary issue in the Nile Basin:
2.1 Water challenges in Ethiopia and Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) (presentaion in pdf) (Video)
and water treaties
5. Desertification and Energy issues: (presentaion in pdf) (Video)
3.1 Drought, Potential Evapotranspiration, deforestation, overgrazing, urbanization.
3.2 Sand dune encroachment.
3.3 Non-renewable energy resources (fossil oil, natural gas, coal, uranium).
3.4 Renewable energy resources (solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectricity, biomass, biofuels, nuclear
6. Review (presentaion in pdf) (Video)
Last updated Dec. 31, 2023