Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with practical skills to find and use sources of food law and with specialized knowledge regarding the values that guide the development of food law at EU and global level. In addition, the objective of the course is to develop the student's critical thinking skills regarding issues and problems discussed, as well as to apply the acquired knowledge to real cases.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
Module A, titled "Constitutional Ideas in Food Law ", aims to study the constituting values of food law in the past, present and future from a dynamic, European and global perspective. Much has been built on the basis of human rights, consumer interests and trade. For the future the concept of sustainability presents a central relevance as a new keyword of 21st century constitutionalism.
Particularly, the course will focus on: constituting values such as the rule of law, the human right to food, the problem of food security, the protection of human life and health from food borne hazards, free trade and consumer empowerment. Facing the future the sustainability concept presents itself and brings new spatial/temporal dimensions of contemporary food law; including the issue of new legal subjectivities, such as future generations and the need to reconsider constitutional principles and public policies (at all institutional levels of competence) from a necessarily intergenerational perspective; the new instruments of Constitutional Law (sustainability leads to considering not primarily national constitutions but also other legal documents of European and global relevance, which, through the principle of sustainability, hold together environmental, economic, social and democratic issues; the relationship of the principle of sustainability with other principles-values of constitutional standing, such as solidarity, rationality, subsidiarity.
Full programme
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Bibliography
The reference material will be provided on the Elly platform. In particular, articles and case-law will be indicated to students as compulsory readings, necessary to take the final exam. Also non-mandatory recommended materials will be made accessible through the Elly platform during the course.
Teaching methods
The course will be held by lectures and seminars, with interactive teaching activities, giving space to develop practical skills and for debate and involving students in the development of critical thinking. Therefore, students are invited to actively participate in the various teaching activities offered during the course, such as:
- Seminars;
- Discussion on specific case studies: students will be required to read in advance and independently the materials provided before the lecture in order to promote debate during the lecture;
- Group work focused on the in-depth study of key issues.
Assessment methods and criteria
Written exam based on open questions. For attending-students, the Module final grade will be determined by also considering the activities developed throughout the course (in particular, participation in exercises). Detailed instructions will be provided in class.
Students will be assessed on their knowledge of the topics presented during the course and of the basic theoretical concepts of the constitutional values discussed. Students will also be tested on their capacity to examine and discuss case studies and case-law as well as on their ability to engage in independent thinking and personal considerations.
Attending-students will also be assessed considering their contribution to class debate, their ability to autonomously study and develop critical evaluations on a specific topic.
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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