Introduction The right to food is protected in international and national law. Food security exists when all people, at all times, have access (both physical and economic) to sufficient, nutritious and safe food to meet their dietary needs (FAO, 2016). Factors affecting food security include environmental, policy, social, and economic environments. The importance of understanding and evaluating the impact of these factors on the demand, supply and the price of food cannot be overstressed. That is why the Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development (LELVO) has decided to take up the opportunity to introduce these concepts to learners at the earliest stage possible.
Aim and Objectives
The overarching aim of this project is to enable learners to identify and evaluate factors affecting the demand for and supply of food and hence establish the effect on market prices.
By completion of the program the learners should be able to:
- Understand and explain various concepts concerning Agricultural Economics.
- Understand and explain the importance Food Security.
- Understand and evaluate factors affecting food prices and demand.
- Apply their knowledge in order to make transactions on SAFEX.
- Create and Agricultural Policy.
- Apply the ABSA model.
- Conduct GMO tests on maize.
- Conduct research.
- Compile and present a PowerPoint presentation.
The Game
The South African Futures Exchange (SAFEX) simulation game will be used throughout the 2016 UP with Science period to expose learners to the stressful situation that delineates the grain trading arena. The short and the long of using the SAFEX simulation game is to get learners to apply the fundamentals of SAFEX (learned during the early stages of the UP with Science program) when buying and selling grains to hopefully make a potential profit. A proper understanding of the SAFEX, the workings of the grain industry and the buying and selling arena is an important weapon in our future leaders’ arsenal in combatting food insecurity.
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