Geog / Env. St 309: People, Land & Food

Welcome to the “People, Land and Food” course website! You can download the Spring 2025 syllabus here to learn more.

Spring 2026 syllabus coming soon!

Human land-use change has reshaped the planet more than any other environmental force—on par with climate change itself. As population growth and consumption intensify, decisions about how we use land now sit at the center of debates over food, climate, biodiversity, and justice.

In this course, we explore how and why humans have transformed the global landscape and what those transformations mean for the future of a livable planet. We examine the tradeoffs between meeting basic human needs, such as food and energy production, and unintended consequences including habitat loss, floodings, greenhouse gas emissions, and community displacement. Through real-world case studies, we investigate agricultural systems across regions, focusing on food security, land scarcity, bioenergy, and the environmental, economic, and social impacts of farming. We will also dive into the specifics of tropical deforestation—its drivers, patterns, and global consequences.

Most importantly, this is a solutions-oriented course. We evaluate responses ranging from international policy to everyday consumer and land-use decisions, looking into ways to feed and fuel the world without destroying it. Students will apply what they learn in class by leading a service-learning or research project designed to create tangible change in our local community.

Please email me with any questions hkgibbs@wisc.edu.

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Professor Holly Gibbs Bio

I am the Gaylord Nelson Distinguished Chair in the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, where I lead a large team of interdisciplinary scientists, analysts, and students. A physical scientist by training, I focus on interdisciplinary, applied questions around Land Systems Science, agriculture, globalization, environment, and policy. I investigate how and why people use land around the world and what that means for climate change, biodiversity, ecosystem services and social justice.  I am passionate about using my academic scholarship to change the world. I work closely with policymakers, business leaders and non-governmental organizations to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems.

Teaching “People, Land and Food” is a dream come true for me! We have an opportunity to travel around the world’s landscapes together to better understand the influence of humans and explore the potential of solutions from transformation of our food systems and to small every-day decisions. I hope we have a chance to work and learn together.

You can learn more about me and my research here

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Teaching Assistant Leeza Gavronsky Bio

I am a master’s student at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. My academic interests include the intersections of economics, agroecology, conservation, community development, and storytelling. I am currently working on a project that examines financing gaps in sustainable agricultural transitions in the U.S. I am also a self-taught photographer, and my work includes conceptual, environmental/place-based, and family subjects.
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