Biennial course.  Offered in 2013.   Not offered in 2014. 

The course focuses on the sustainability of the human food systems. Agricultural systems in Australia and internationally will be examined from a complex systems perspective at local, national and global scales, covering production, transport, storage, manufacturing and use of food and fibre. An interdisciplinary approach will provide historical, geographical, social and political perspectives on agriculture in Australia. Key concepts in agricultural management and development will be introduced and discussed including rural livelihoods, agro-ecology, sustainability, food security, adaptation, conservation agriculture, value chains and innovation systems. In addition to social and economic systems, biophysical and production systems will be studied, including fertility management and nutrient cycling, pest and disease control, input replacement and system redesign, genetic engineering and energy inputs and outputs.  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, and a range of other countries including Indonesia, Syria, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and India. The course will include fieldwork with farm and food industry enterprises designed to give students first hand experience of issues and topics raised in lectures.  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 rural systems, and communicate these to a range of audiences in effective written and oral form
2. understand and explain key rural systems concepts and perspectives
3. critically examine complex rural systems using a range of frameworks and tools
4. describe constraints and opportunities for future sustainable non-urban living.
5. To be able to engage in both a theoretical and practical approach to regional, national and global world policy settings.

• Presentation (20-25%) (LO 1, 2, 3, 5)
• practical report (20-25%) (LO 1, 2, 3, 5)
• major field research report (40-50%) (LO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

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

To enrol in this course you must have completed a three year bachelor degree.