Sustainable Agriculture and Food Production MSc

Program Overview

The Sustainable Agriculture and Food Production MSc at the University of Leeds equips students with the knowledge and skills to address the challenges and opportunities of sustainable food production in a multidisciplinary and practical way. Combining theoretical learning with hands-on experience, the program prepares graduates for careers in industries supporting agriculture and food production, including agronomy, environmental consultancy, and research.

Program Outline

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Production MSc - University of Leeds

Degree Overview:

This MSc program addresses the critical need for sustainable agricultural practices in a world facing growing population, environmental pressures, and climate change. It aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to contribute to the development and implementation of innovative solutions for sustainable food production. The program emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach, drawing on expertise from various departments within the University of Leeds, including the Global Food and Environment Institute. It combines theoretical learning with practical experience, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of sustainable agriculture and food production.

Objectives:

• To provide a thorough understanding of the challenges and opportunities in sustainable agriculture and food production.
• To equip students with the knowledge and skills to develop and implement innovative solutions for sustainable food production.
• To develop students' research skills and prepare them for advanced research projects or careers in the field.

Outline:

Year 1 Compulsory Modules:

• Global Challenges in Sustainable Agriculture (15 Credits): This module explores the global challenges facing sustainable agriculture, including population growth, climate change, and environmental degradation.
It examines existing and innovative solutions to these challenges.
• Crop Production in a Changing Environment (15 Credits): This module focuses on the challenges and opportunities of crop production in a changing environment.
It covers topics such as sustainable crop management, climate-smart agriculture, and the impact of climate change on crop yields.
• Sustainable Diets and Protein Production (15 Credits): This module examines the role of sustainable diets in addressing global food security and environmental challenges.
It explores various protein sources, including plant-based alternatives, and their environmental impacts.
• Research Skills and Data Analysis (15 Credits): This module develops students' research skills, including data analysis, statistical methods, and scientific writing.
It prepares students for conducting independent research projects.
• Crop Science & Plant Biotechnology (30 Credits): This module delves into the science of crop production, including plant physiology, genetics, and biotechnology.
It explores the use of biotechnology to improve crop yields and resilience.
• Agri-Environmental Monitoring, Economics and Policy (15 Credits): This module examines the economic and policy aspects of sustainable agriculture.
It covers topics such as environmental monitoring, agricultural economics, and policy development.
• Circular Approaches to Sustainable Agri-food Systems (15 Credits): This module explores the concept of circular economy in the context of agriculture and food production.
It examines strategies for reducing waste, recycling resources, and promoting sustainable practices.
• Masters Research Project (60 Credits): This module involves the development and execution of an independent research project under the supervision of an expert in the field of sustainable agriculture.
Students will plan, design, and implement a practical, work-based, fieldwork, or data-based project and present their findings in a scientific report and presentation.

Assessment:

• The program is assessed entirely through coursework.
• Assessments are designed to be authentic and reflect real-world applications, including practical work, data handling, problem-solving exercises, group work, coursework essays, research proposals, posters, and oral presentations.
• Assessments focus on demonstrating key intellectual, research, and technical understanding rather than lengthy written work.
• Students have flexibility in choosing topics for assignments, allowing them to focus on areas of interest.
• Assessments are designed to develop skills relevant to future careers in the agricultural, academic, or scientific sectors.

Teaching:

• The program utilizes a variety of teaching methods, including formal lectures, interactive workshops, seminars, tutorials, problem-solving sessions, practical classes, and discussions.
• A significant portion of the course is delivered through small group sessions.
• Students undertake an independent research project under the supervision of an expert in the field.
• Teaching is delivered by expert academics, including lecturers, professors, industry professionals with extensive experience, and trained postgraduate researchers.

Careers:

• The program prepares graduates for a wide range of careers in industries that support agriculture and food production.
• Potential career paths include:
• Agricultural and/or environmental consultancy
• Agricultural advisory and policy organizations (Natural England, Farming Advice Service, DEFRA)
• Environmental and agricultural monitoring
• Agro-chemicals (Bayer, Syngenta, BASF, etc.)
• Plant biotechnology and crop breeding (KWS, Limagrain, RAGT, etc.)
• Agronomy
• Agricultural equipment (particularly instrumentation)
• The program also aligns with opportunities in business and government related to sustainability, climate mitigation, decarbonization, and circular economies.
• Students have the opportunity to engage with a broad range of crop, soil, and plant science research taking place on the farm site.
• The program includes fieldwork components, taking advantage of the University's location near the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks.
• The University of Leeds has a proactive Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) that advises on industry needs and ensures relevant employability skills are embedded in the curriculum.
• The University's employability and opportunity team provides support to students throughout their studies, including career planning, PhD application guidance, networking opportunities, and interview practice.
• The program offers regular research seminars presented by leading academics from around the world.