Sustainable food production - challenges and cropping system solutions

About this programme

MX0146, Sustainable food production - challenges and cropping system solutions, 7.5 Hp Print syllabus The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest. The course aims to provide students with an overview of how food crops are produced, the major challenges to sustainability associated with agriculture and solutions for increasing sustainability through cropping systems. Critical analysis of the problems and solutions will be encouraged as well as reflection on our personal impact on agricultural sustainability as consumers of food products. The course consists of lectures, seminars and workshops, as well as group project work. Teaching will be provided by scientists who are experts in cropping systems and sustainable agriculture, and complemented by other stakeholders with interests in sustainable agriculture. Seminars will allow interactive discussions on the lectures and related literature where debate of the key issues will be encouraged. Workshops will be used to share and create knowledge related to assignments and project work, exchange experience and opinions and assess our own personal impact on sustainable food production as consumers and citizens. The course begins with an overview of the world’s major food crops and how they are produced. Then the major challenges to agricultural sustainability are presented. Focus is on environmental sustainability but economic and social sustainability will be discussed. Using a cases approach, several food producti