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Wageningen University

Food Security and Sustainability

Wageningen University via edX XSeries

Overview

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Get involved: let’s find a way to feed 9 billion people in 2050

What are the biggest environmental issues we face? Pollution? Climate change? True. But among these environmental topics, feeding the growing population, 9 billion in 2050, is one of the most pressing issues we have to find a solution for.

To solve this problem, we need people to gain knowledge, do research, and explore the options. You can be a piece of the puzzle, help find a solution, and start now by gaining knowledge about food production systems, food security, sustainable development in agriculture and livestock, and systems thinking.

XSeries sustainable food security

How is it possible that the world currently produces enough food for everyone, but still people suffer from hunger and nutrient deficiencies? How can we produce sufficient food in an environmentally sustainable way to feed the increased world population in the future?

This Environmental Studies XSeries, developed by Wageningen University, consists of 3 courses:

The value of systems thinking

Learn about systems thinking and its application to improve the environmental sustainability of food production systems. The main topics are:

  • Complexity and diversity of food production systems
  • Principles of system analysis
  • Evaluation methods for the environmental impact of food production systems
  • Strong and weak points of different food production systems

Crop production

Learn the basics of crop production to feed the world and preserve our planet’s resources. The main topics are:

  • Basic concept of plant production
  • Issues related to global food production and consumption
  • Influences of water (scarcity and availability) and other measures on crop production
  • Processes that cause major problems for the environment
  • Measures to solve and prevent those problems

Food Access

Learn about the basics of food access decision-making from a multilevel perspective. The main topics are:

  • The basic principles of food access
  • Choices influencing food access
  • Dilemmas at household, local, national and international levels

About Wageningen University & Research

At Wageningen University and Research, we are dedicated to exploring the potential of nature to improve the quality of life. Studies and courses train (future) professionals from all over the world in sustainable food systems and help consumers make informed choices about what they eat, how it is produced and the impact of their decisions on the environment and society.

Course structures and certificates

The duration of each course (or MOOC: Massive Open Online Course) is flexible: study any time and place you want. You decide how to spend your time during a course. Gain the knowledge offered in each course through dynamic modules filled with video, syllabus, and assignments for practice and grading. Obtain your verified certificate for $ 49,- each. After successful completion of all 3 courses, you can obtain an overall certificate.

About course dates

EdX keeps courses available, even if the recent course date has expired. Enroll nonetheless, and allow yourself to explore content and continue learning. However, not all features and materials may be available. Check back often to see when new start dates are announced.

Scroll down to find more information about each separate course and join the Wageningen University XSeries about sustainable food security.

Syllabus

Courses under this program:
Course 1: Sustainable Food Security: Crop Production

How to feed the world without depleting our planet’s reserves? Learn the basics of crop production. This online course is offered as a MOOC, and is part of the XSeries Sustainable Food Security.



Course 2: Sustainable Food Security: The value of systems thinking

Learn how to solve the 'Rubik's cube' of systems thinking and how it's applied to improve the environmental sustainability of food production systems!



Course 3: Sustainable Food Security: Food Access

Who decides what food is on your plate? Understand the basics of access to food and food decision-making from a multilevel perspective in this course. This online course is offered as a MOOC, and is part of the XSeries Sustainable Food Security.



Courses

Taught by

Eddie Bokkers, Martin van Ittersum, Ken Giller, ​Harrie Lovenstein, Gerrie van de Ven, Marrit van den Berg, Hilde Bras, Jeroen Candel, Jessica Duncan, Ewout Frankema, Peter Oosterveer, Maja Slingerland, Sietze Vellema, I.J.M. de Boer and Carolien Kroeze

Reviews

5.0 rating, based on 1 Class Central review

Start your review of Food Security and Sustainability

  • Ragib Das Gupta
    Food Security and sustainability is the common understanding way to established to increase economy in world. In this reason we are ensure sustainability to all level and encouraging specially industrial and agricultural aspect.

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