Program

Contribute to a growing field

Food and agriculture are foundational to life. But the way we produce food, how we consume it, and the manner in which it is distributed at regional, national and global levels have become maters of study and debate. The promise of sustainable agriculture; the environmental, social and ethical consequences of conventional agriculture; investment in industrial crops to supply fuel and materials; ongoing risks to food security and human health; demand for local food production in the context of global food trade; cultural and social critiques of our food system such as the Slow Food movement and advocacy of animal rights; growing interest in urban agriculture and in First Nations agriculture – these and other developments testify to how agriculture and food have become topics of discussion across Ontario and Canada. Internationally, agriculture and food encompass a similarly wide and diverse array of pressing issues.

Degree Options

The Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Program offers two degree options: an Honours BSc in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Science, and an Honours BA in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Studies. These degrees share several core courses that together provide a foundation in the principles and practices of agricultural production and food consumption. Each of these degrees also include an array of required and elective courses, focusing on either the scientific dimensions of agriculture and food (for BSc students), or on their social, political, economic, and cultural dimensions (for BA students).

Courses for the Honours BSc degree are organized in terms of the following three themes:

• Interdisciplinary core courses on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems, emphasizing scientific perspectives
• Courses in environmental science, biology, geography and other sciences that provide a foundation for advanced scientific study of agriculture and food
• Specialized agricultural and environmental science courses, on topics such as agricultural entomology, nutrient management, and the implications of climate change for agriculture.

Courses for the Honours BA degree are organized in terms of the following three themes:

• Interdisciplinary core courses on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems, emphasizing social, political, economic and cultural perspectives
• Courses in environmental studies and international development studies that provide a foundation for study of the human dimensions of agriculture and food
• Specialized courses in a variety of disciplines, including Anthropology, Geography, History and Indigenous Studies, that provide a range of opportunities to study specific aspects of agriculture and food

Specialization in Small-Scale Farming