MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security

Royal Agricultural University

This course is for anyone concerned that our food production systems will not be fit for purpose by the middle of this century.

Course overview

Increasingly large swathes of the globe are beset by resource constraints and environmental uncertainty, which requires a radical shift in our production and consumption habits. This course will equip you with the specialised knowledge and skills that are urgently needed by governments, NGOs and commercial companies as they respond to some of today’s biggest challenges.

If you are driven by a desire to shape public and political attitudes, this is the ideal environment in which to develop a strategic and operational mind-set in a way that will expand your own opinions and those of global decision-makers.

You will delve into critical issues such as the human exploitation of the Earth’s resources, poverty alleviation and food security, the ethical and cultural implications of policy development, the ecological basis for sustainable agricultural development, and critical capacity building approaches.

Our renowned lecturers and researchers will guide you through theoretical study and practical exercises that will prepare you for a successful career, from producing a magazine or a podcast through to organising a national conference.

Teaching

The course may be studied full-time over 12 months or part-time over two years, staring either in September or January, comprising five core modules and three elective modules, followed by a Research Project carried out over the summer culminating in a review of a key topic and an academic paper.

You will gain a broader understanding of relevant issues through knowledge acquisition, intellectual enquiry, debate, and team/individual research.

In addition to lectures, you will participate in case studies, seminars and management projects. This approach fosters teamwork and complements individual study and student learning.

Careers and enterprise

Our graduates have gone on to enter production, policy, and research and consultancy careers in the agricultural and food quality sector, within:

• International organisations
• Government departments
• NGOs
• Research institutes
• Universities
• Commercial companies worldwide