Professional/Short course Agroecology and Sustainable Farming Systems
30 credit level 7 module
About
This 30 credit module, Agroecology and Sustainable Farming Systems, provides a detailed critical review of solutions to current unsustainable approaches to agriculture and food production in light of nature-based solutions to climate change, biodiversity loss and provision of ecosystem services.
This module develops a number of graduate skills, such as understanding and critically assessing environmental challenges attributed to current unsustainable agricultural practices; evaluating novel approaches to sustainable farming such as nature-based solutions, regenerative agriculture and ecosystem service provision; the ability to collect, analyse, interpret, present and communicate data and evidence collected from the field and analysed in the laboratory for monitoring and evaluating environmental condition.
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
- synthesise the principles of agroecology and apply them across food production systems.
- critically evaluate the complexity of producing food sustainably from multi and trans disciplinary perspectives related to social-ecological outcomes.
- critically evaluate multiple outcomes/objectives of food production system - data analysis, verification, validation.
- conceptualise a research plan and report research outcomes.
Careers / Further study
This module can contribute towards the MSc Sustainable Food Systems, and the Professional Development Awards. If you have any queries, please contact the Professional Development team (pd@uwe.ac.uk).
How to apply
Please click on the Apply Now button to apply for your CPD module, which you can take as a stand-alone course or as part of an undergraduate or postgraduate (Masters level) programme.
Please read our Terms and Conditions.
For further information
- Email: pd@uwe.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)117 32 81158
Structure
Content
The module syllabus would typically include the following themes:
- Agroecological principles; solutions; sustainability; land and resource management; social-ecological approach; non-food crops.
- Climate change; sustainable food production; land and resource management; social-ecological interactions; non-food crop production.
- Ecosystem service provision; balancing land use for more than food and yield (profit) production e.g. carbon sequestration, nature.
- Future proofing; how do we build agroecological systems at different scales; contradictions, compromise and holistic design.
Learning and Teaching
This level 7 (Masters level) module content will be delivered via lectures, tutorials/workshops, field trips and laboratory practicals.
Assessment
Assessment for this module comprises:
- a portfolio of short reports (3,000 words maximum) based on field and laboratory work and produced as a small group, written as for a scientific audience
- a written assignment (1,500 words maximum) on an agroecological issues, written for a lay audience (for example, an article for an agricultural magazine or television programme).
The written assignment will be supported by a one hour debate on the agroecological issue, undertaken in small groups.
The debate is not assessed but contributes to developing students critical thinking skills. The debate will enable students to assess food system dynamics and put forward their own arguments on food system challenges.
Prices and dates
Supplementary fee information
For information on fees, managing your money and determining your fees status, please visit our Health professional development fees webpage.
Dates
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If no course dates are shown below this could be due to high demand or no availability. If your course is being funded by your employer and they have bought places in advance, you will need to contact them to be given the links to apply.
Features
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