Organization: Wageningen University
Registration deadline: 18 Oct 2016
Starting date: 03 Apr 2017
Ending date: 14 Apr 2017
To go beyond just an increase in outputs to feed 9 billion people in 2050, an integral redirection of current farming practices is required. Nowadays there is a compelling need for creative thinkers that lead the way to innovative and more sustainable agricultural production. This two week’s intensive course will give you new tools and perspectives to become one of them.
Between tradition, innovation, and visioning: building new models for the future
Designing agriculture development interventions
Agriculture entails much more than just producing food – it also relates to feed, fibre and fuel, to climate change, water usage, waste management, landscape design, leisure, social stability, culture, income and health. Agriculture has to find new balances between producing food, managing natural resources, meeting societal expectations and providing a livelihood base for the rural and peri-urban population. This course offers a system perspective on agriculture as well as skills to design innovative and sustainable farming options. We will look at the broad and complex agrifood systems, from soil management to changing consumer preferences.
Course Structure
The course will use a mix of lectures, discussions, group work and field trips to offer background, theoretical foundations, as well as practical approaches for production and market development. Taking the participants’ own rural situation as a starting point, we will analyse the current situation, explore options that are already available for further development and design new systems to produce farm products in a responsible manner.
Course objectives
Upon completion of the course you will:
- have a deeper understanding of how global development, trends and patterns affect farming practices and policies at local and national levels;
- have a clear picture of the multiple aspects of agriculture and its relation with climate change, food and nutrition security, social stability and resilience;
- have the ability to develop scenarios in search of alternative options and trade-offs in resource-scarce situations, using state-of-the-art approaches;
- design own transition paths for the introduction of innovative farming interventions that are socially, economically and ecologically balanced.
Target audience
It is expected that the group will consist of a mix of technically, academically, and policy oriented participants from different countries.
The basic prerequisite for participation in the course is active interest and professional experience in the topics addressed. Participants should be proficient in English, and have at least a BSc degree or an equivalent academic qualification.
How to register:
For more information: http://www.wageningenur.nl/en/Expertise-Services/Research-Institutes/centre-for-development-innovati...