School of Public Service
Tuscany, Italy
Exact program dates TBA: Summer 2011
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The Tuscany, Italy program focuses on the study of European food policies and the comparative analysis with the American food system. Tuscany food policies center around the promotion and regulation of biodiversity, organic agriculture, traditional values and quality on food production, distribution and consumption. Food is more than a commodity in Tuscany. It is embedded in cultural values protected and monitored through a complex system of local, regional, national European Union model for preserving quality while competing in the global market. The program benefits from the collaboration with the International Slow Food Movement and its Foundation for Biodiversity. Slow Food, now quite active in the United States and Chicago, represents one of the best practices in fostering collaborations among government agencies, businesses and nonprofits. The examples of policy strategies on food labeling and control emerging from organizations such as ARSIA-Regione Toscana are relevant to numerous other international contexts, including Chiapas.
The establishment of a European food policy that gives priority to consumer protection and consumer health is at the forefront of science in policy making within Europe. This course examines the principles, policies and practices of food quality management established by the EU, regulated by regional governmental agencies, and monitored by national and international NGOs. The concern to produce, monitor and consume quality food has brought together the efforts of the agricultural industries, government agencies and nongovernmental organizations. Through this course, students will develop a cross-national understanding of regulatory public policy and food quality management. They will be able to recognize food labeling and certifications and understand the correlations between quality of life, socio-economic considerations, sustainability, organic production and international policies for food quality products.
Courses Offered
MPS 613: Comparative Public Policy / EU Food Policies This course examines the EU/EC’s regulatory public policy to maintain and protect food quality through standardized characteristics and labeling of products and geographical areas. The science of food quality management is examined in relation to food safety, environmental sustainability, animal welfare, organic farming, traditional methods and non-genetically modified products (GMO). Students will learn about food regulatory public policy directly from regional government representatives, scholars and practitioners from Tuscan localities. Students will be exposed to various case studies of economic development due to public investment in the production, certification and commercialization of Tuscan food products. The course introduces students to the fascinating and challenging issues of comparative research. The contrasting and yet comparable USA and EU food policies offer a perfect focus for study the complexity of the world of food in relation to health, business, consumer culture, environment and food governance.
Other Information
LIVING ARRANGEMENTS: Participants will stay in characteristic hotel in Cortona, the medieval heart of Tuscany. They will be travelling to Firenze, Arezzo, Siena, Montepulciano, Montacino, Pienza and other Tuscan localities. Tuscany is a nice place to visit. It is even better when the site of an educational program like this is at the heart of Tuscany, Cortona (featured in Under the Tuscan Sun). The program includes travels to Tuscan towns and visits to key organizations working in the field of food policy. We visit prestigious wineries for the famous Nobile di Montepulciano, Brunello di Montalcino and the Chianti Classico region in Siena. We learn directly from mangers of La Bucaccia in Cortona, a unique restaurant exclusively serving locally certified products, about the opportunities and challenges in food quality service. We meet with public administrators of the Provincia di Arezzo and travel to Florence to learn about food labels and certificates directly from ARSIA-Regione Toscana representatives. You will learn to appreciate and recognize genuine products and hand-made dishes. You will come back in the USA eager to understand more about our agricultural and organic policies and to get involved with Slow Food USA.
EXPENSES: The program fee of $1,800 covers gourmet meals, wine tastings, local bus and train transportations and health insurance. You should consider the costs for a 4 credit hours of DePaul graduate tuition (Summer). Students must plan their budgets to cover airfare, additional meals (your gelato!), individual local transportation, personal supplies, textbooks, and entertainment
NUMBER OF STUDENTS: The program admits 10 (max. 15) DePaul students.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Download the application and submit by March 31.
CONTACT/FURTHER INFORMATION: If you are interested in food policy please contact Dr. Marco Tavanti.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY: “I think the most important discovery I made in this class is the extreme lack of awareness Americans have regarding the politics that go into labeling our food and about genetically modified foods. I think many individuals involved in the public service program would appreciate the material covered in this class, as overall people in the program are fairly socially aware.” (Alumnus 2008 Program)
“The most important discovery in this program is that eating local food not only tastes better but it also has an impact on the local economy and community sustainability” (Alumnus 2006 Program).
“Thanks to our instructor, a native of Tuscany, we were able to better understand local cultural values and perspectives on government policies and regulations. I really appreciated both his native expertise and knowledge of our American systems.” (Alumnus 2006 Program).
“It was quite interesting to learn how the EU regulatory policies help in ensuring food products are labeled properly and accurately. Reading Nestle’s Food Politics has been very eye opening in learning how the United States government approaches this topic.” (Alumnus 2004 Program)
The course is appropriate for students interested in government (public administration), nonprofit, public policy, and international public service.