Cairo University
Faculty of Agriculture
Food Processing
Contemporary International Issues (FPT 217)
European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS)
(Second Term) April- May 2021
Module 3-4
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
Exam 1 or assignment 1 …….….........................................… 10%
Exam 2 or assignment 1 …............................................…….. 10%
Oral Exam …......................................................................... 10%
Review article and class activity….....................…............…. 20% (How to write a review article) (video)
Final Exam …………....................................................…….. 50%
Course Content (General Notes in pdf)
1. Water Issues:
1.1 Introduction and global water balance (presentation in pdf)
1.2 Water scarcity (presentation in pdf) - (Video)
1.3 Water resources in Africa (presentation in pdf)
1.4 Water resources in the Arab World (presentation in pdf)
1.5 Water resources in Egypt (presentation in pdf) (Video)
1.6 Nile water balance, projects, and Aswan High Dam (presentation in pdf) (Video)
2. Transboundary issue in the Nile Basin: (Video)
2.1 Water challenges in Ethiopia (presentation in pdf)
2.2 Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and water treaties (presentation in pdf)
3. Desertification issues: (presentation in pdf) (Video of Desertification and Energy)
3.1 Drought, Potential Evapotranspiration, deforestation, overgrazing, urbanization.
3.2 Sand dune encroachment.
4. Energy Resources issues: (presentation in pdf)
4.1 Non-renewable energy resources (fossil oil, natural gas, coal, uranium).
4.2 Renewable energy resources (solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectricity, biomass, biofuels, nuclear
power).
5. Climate Change (variation):
Causes, evidence, greenhouse gases, sea-level rise
Review (presentation in pdf) (Video)
Last updated May 18, 2021