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Course description

On a national and international scale, there is an increasing need to reconcile the need for increased food production with the need for conservation of natural resources. There is also a need for people to understand and deal with complex land situations such as within agricultural systems.

The course

This course is intended to provide students with a detailed understanding of basic and applied agro-ecology and the issues associated with, on the one hand, the increased and shifting needs for food production and on the other the need for conservation and management of natural resources. Sustainable food production and sustainable intensification are of high policy importance both nationally and internationally. Agro-ecology is a key aspect of sustainable intensification.  

This course is underpinned by an extensive programme of agri-environment research at Harper Adams and long-standing collaborations with research institutes and other organisations in the UK and overseas. The course will utilise our teaching strengths and offer an alternative focus for students with an interest in both agriculture and the natural environment and will complement other specialist postgraduate courses such as the Entomology courses,  Integrated Pest Management, and Weed Science.

Specifically the course will enable students to:

• Identify the nature, structure and complexities of multifunctional landscapes.
• Evaluate the interactions between organisms and consider these when making management recommendations for successful agro-ecological landscapes
• Evaluate the strategic and operational issues and conflicts affecting the sustainable management of agricultural ecosystems.
• Appraise the role of agro-ecology within the wider context of global food security and sustainable food production
• Select the most appropriate conservation management solution in a range of agricultural and other environments.
• Develop the ability to solve conflicts in agro-ecosytems by the application of novel research techniques

How will it benefit me?

An understanding of agro-ecology and the organisms and systems that underpin agricultural systems can facilitate the ability to manage agricultural systems in a more sustainable manner.

This course will provide the foundation for a career in both conservation and in agriculture.

The course will provide you with specialized training in agroecology and farmland conservation. Specifically, the course which will:

• prepare you for a career in conservation agriculture, or agriculture or conservation more widely.
• offer vocational training in the area of agroecology.
• prepare you for PhD. studies.
• enable you to make a more informed choices for further study and career development.

Jenna Higgins, Technical Officer,

Funding

The full-time and two year part-time courses are eligible for a postgraduate loan.

Students on this scholarship are eligible to apply for The Organic Farmers and Growers Scholarship.

Block-based study

Modules are delivered in one week (and in a select few modules two week) blocks on campus. You will know in advance which weeks require physical attendance as they’ll be scheduled on the timetable. In addition to this, you will be required to allocate time for self-study to complete the assignments associated with each of the modules. Some modules may also include research and/or exam elements, these are also highlighted on the timetable.

Additional module information

For the Postgraduate Diploma (PgD) students must choose either Biodiversity and Ecosystems Service OR International Agroecology as a core module. 

For the Master of Science (MSc) students must choose between Biodiversity and Ecosystems Service OR International Agroecology as a core module. You may also choose to study either a social science route or a natural science route by selecting either Advanced Research Methods (Social Sciences) OR Experimental Design and Analysis.

Students may also choose other modules from the Harper Adams postgraduate programme not listed below instead of optional modules if they are available on the timetable.