This pathway examines current and possible future strategies for agricultural production within the context of environmental sustainability, food chain relationships and the regulatory framework for agrifood businesses and communities.

The increasing demand for food throughout the world, together with aspirations for an improved or more varied diet, has led to intensive methods of food production, which imposes a severe strain on agricultural resources, potentially resulting in a worldwide degradation of soil quality, the rapid consumption of finite resources and pressures on water availability. The situation is considered by many to be no longer sustainable and many systems of integrated and less intensive production have been proposed.

On this pathway, you will study the following focus modules and any one other (in addition to the five core modules) and carry out a research investigation within this theme:

Integrated Agricultural Systems

This module is an evaluation of the sustainability of major types of tropical and temperate farming systems that have evolved globally in relation to the prevailing agro-climatic zones, the influences of economic factors and changing global markets on such systems - from subsistence farming, through integrated and low input systems to industrialised agriculture in relation to economic, environmental, social, cultural, food safety and ethical considerations. Principles and practices of sustainable farming of particular consequence to small resource-poor farmers are also explored.

Sustainable Management of Soil and Water

This module evaluates the traditional management strategies for soil and water as factors in food production and applies sustainable principles to their use and management in various agro-climatic zones and production systems. Soil is considered in terms of physical, chemical and biological properties in relation to nutrient cycling processes, structural quality, risk of erosion and contamination. Water in agriculture links climate and hydrology to water collection and use, crop requirements, potential evapotranspiration and water balances, water quality and salinisation, drainage and leaching, and water conservation techniques.