Biennial course.  Offered in 2011.  Not offered in 2012.

The course focuses on the sustainability of the human food chain in industrial and non-industrial systems. An agroecological and a systems thinking approach will be taken to the production, transport, storage and manufacturing of food, fibre and water in agricultural processes.  Topics will address the ecological and social processes and problems of different farming strategies including fertility management and nutrient cycling, pest and disease control and bio-mimicry, monoculture versus polycultures, input replacement and system redesign, genetic engineering and petro-chemical dependency, product preservation and processing.  Production issues will be integrated into the broader social, cultural and economic contexts of family farming and agri-business, consumer demand and marketing, international trade and rural policy.  Examples will be drawn from Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, North America and the European Union. The course will include fieldwork with farm and food industry enterprises.  Attendance on field trips is a course requirement.

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. apply key concepts in Human Ecology to the rural environment, and communicate these to a range of audiences
2. describe the ecosystem services provided by modern rural systems
3. explain material and energy flows of rural industries, including food and water, and carry out a food systems analysis of a chosen commodity or production system.
4. describe constraints and opportunities for future sustainable non-urban living.

• Presentation (25%)
• Practical report (25%)
• Major field research report (50%)

65 contact hours contact comprising lectures, practicals and fieldwork in a semi-intensive mode over 9 weeks of second semester.

72 units towards a degree, including ENVS2011 or ENVS1001 and ENVS3002

SRES3023 and ENVS3023 Agroecology and Sustainable Systems