Integrated Sustainable Agriculture

This module builds on students' knowledge of sustainable agriculture and the key concepts and principles underpinning sustainability. The module takes an integrated approach to sustainable agriculture, building learners' understanding through a cross-sectoral lens of the interrelated issues of food security - hunger, poverty, malnutrition; and the deterioration of natural resources.

It will examine both global and national targets/agreements to improve sustainability while also investigating the current and emerging innovations to develop integrated approaches to the environmental, economic and social pillars of sustainability in agricultural systems.

The module will also examine how farmers/adults learn, their motivations, the socio-cultural nature of farming and the role of policy measures and extension services in supporting the adoption of sustainable innovations.

1. Articulate an understanding of the nature of sustainable agricultural systems and the key concepts and principles underpinning sustainability.

2. Critically appraise the key national and international targets/agreements to improve sustainability.

3. Synthesise major sustainability concepts and identify a range of innovations to improve the sustainability of farms across the pillars of economic, environmental and social sustainability

4. Demonstrate an understanding of farmer learning, the socio-cultural nature of farming and the role of extension services in supporting sustainable agriculture.