The course focuses on agroecological principles to analyse and design sustainable and productive farming systems. Agroecological principles include: Recycling and efficiency; Living Soils; Biodiversity; Ecosystem services and multi-functionality; Resilience; Fair Markets; Culture & spirituality; Youth & Women; Adequate Policies & governance; Knowledge co-creation and collaboration. Students will explore how agroecological farming systems are developed across the world, and how principles can be applied and translated into adaptive farming practices and management. There will be a strong focus on methods, approaches and indicators used to assess mechanisms that regulate the ecological functioning of farming systems. In addition, students will learn methodologies to involve farmers and promote the dialogue between scientific and practical knowledge for the design of agroecological farming systems.
