Food Systems in a Globalized World Italy: Art, History & Language Program Spring 2025 Semester - Florence

This course explores the various and articulated connections between food systems and globalization. It analyzes the global food scene from an historical, political, economic and cultural perspective with a focus on Mediterranean diet, public health, migration, food production, distribution and sustainability, as well as Italy's role in the global food economy. Furthermore, it explores the global threats of industrial food production from a public health perspective, compares the major health problems in Italy with global health trends, and focuses on public health initiatives to tackle obesity, overweight, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer - all of which have become major public health issues in a globalized world. Special focus is given to the recent epidemic of Covid-19, its relationship with industrial food production and its impact on the global food systems.