Undergraduate
Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems
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- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
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- Peterborough
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- Fall & Winter & Summer
- Environment & Sustainability
At a glance:
- Degree Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
- Campus Peterborough
- Program is Offered Fall & Winter & Summer
- Study Options Part time/Full time
- OUAC Codes RAH - Peterborough B.A. RAW - Peterborough B.Sc.
- Apply Now Stay in Touch
The Trent Advantage
Discover how to build sustainable and resilient food systems by exploring the connections between farming, food, communities and the environment, all while getting hands-on in Trent’s rooftop gardens and at the Trent Farm Research Centre.
Explore how food moves from farm to table and how environmental, social, cultural, and economic forces shape what we grow, eat and distribute. Through Trent’s Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems program, you’ll examine local and global food systems while building the knowledge to address challenges in sustainable production, food security and access, to create more resilient and responsible food systems.
- Choose between the Arts B.A. or Sciences B.Sc. degrees to approach food systems through different academic lenses and tailor your studies to your interests and career goals.
- Put sustainable agriculture into practice, gaining hands-on experience in growing spaces on campus, contributing to local food production.
- Explore food from multiple perspectives through courses such as Ecological Agriculture, Soil Science, The World Food System, Culture and Food, and Nutritional Anthropology.
- Get involved through the Trent Apiary, Food Services Sustainability Committee, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Society, and student-run Seasoned Spoon organic café.
Accelerated Masters
Fast-track your education, by earning your M.Sc. in Environmental & Life Sciences in only 12-20 months of graduating from your Honours B.Sc.
Program Possibilites
Specialize your studies in Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems with a focus on a specific field within your degree
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Small-Scale Farming
In this specialization, you’ll earn more than 240 hours of hands-on farming experience through an intensive field course, learning directly from experts in the field and building your network in the agriculture sector.
Add an Option to your Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems degree to explore an additional area of interest
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Climate Communication
Leveraging Trent’s academic and research strengths in arts-based and environmental education, the Option in Climate Communication blends courses across disciplines to teach you a new storytelling approach that examines how to better understand media's effect on audiences’ morals, values, and behaviours. Equipped with this knowledge, this new offering at Trent University aims to use more effective climate change communications and environmental storytelling to foster a more sustainable and equitable world where our collective well-being is at the heart.
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Planning
Ideal for future urban planners, this career-focused option will challenge you to develop and design healthy, sustainable and efficient urban communities. With plenty of hands-on intensive field work, you’ll acquire advanced knowledge about urban planning and position yourself as an excellent candidate for grad school.
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Global Development Studies
Gain a critical understanding of the processes of change that shape the globe. Explore the relationship between colonialism, development, and globalization to address issues of inequality, poverty, the environment, gender, human rights, migration, food, agriculture, health, culture, and ethnicity in different regions of the world.
Career experience while you learn
Every Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems student has a guaranteed route to paid, credited experience before they graduate.
Paid Co-op Available
- Put your skills and knowledge to work in a paid co-op stream, launching fall 2027. You’ll graduate with a distinct career advantage – building valuable connections, gaining hands-on work experience all as part of your Trent degree.
- Gain professional experience in areas such as agricultural research, crop consulting, organic farming, food policy, conservation, and urban agriculture.
Research Opportunities
- Join a new crop of entrepreneurs working at the Trent Farm, Trent Market Garden or Trent Vegetable Garden, supplying fresh produce to campus and local markets, or volunteer with the student-run organic café, The Seasoned Spoon
- Contribute to real-world agricultural research alongside experts, agricultural businesses and organizations such as Environment and Climate Change Canada, V6 Agronomy, and the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, exploring areas such as small-scale food production, climate monitoring, sustainable fertilizers, soil-carbon sequestration and innovative growing practices.
- Connect with agricultural businesses and community organizations to investigate real-world food system challenges beyond the classroom.
Field Schools and Hands-On Courses
- Gain 240+ hours of hands-on farming experience in the Intensive Summer/Fall Field Course learning field preparation, soil and nutrient management, seeding, pest management, irrigation, harvesting and post-harvest practices.
Study Abroad
- Take your Trent education global. Spend a semester or year studying at one of Trent’s 50+ international partner universities, participate in a summer field course, or gain international experience through a placement or internship.
- With opportunities in more than 35 countries, you can broaden your academic perspective, experience new cultures, and build skills that prepare you for a global career.
Placements
- Complete a research placement gaining supervised experience with an agricultural, environmental, food-system or community organization while applying your coursework to a real-world project, such as Trent’s partnership with ClearWater Farm providing students with practical learning in sustainable small-scale agriculture, including farmer-apprentice and community-based experiences.
Career Paths
- Agri-Tourism Business Operator
- Organic Farmer
- Community Food Activist
- Food Policy Analyst
- Land Use Consultant
Admissions
Whether you're graduating from an Ontario high school, looking to study in Canada, or training for a second career, Trent has clear pathways for students to apply and be admitted to study at either of our campuses.
Requirements
If you are coming straight from high school in Ontario or are a recent grad, the general admission requirements are:
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
- A minimum of six Grade 12 4U or 4M courses, including program-specific prerequisites
- ENG4U with a minimum of 60%
| Admission Requirements | Recommended Admission Requirements | Estimated Admission Average | Co-op Admission Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENG4U SBI4U for B.Sc. | 4U Math for B.Sc | 70-75% |
Requirements
Students from across Canada can use their grades from their home province to apply to Trent.
Requirements
International students from outside Canada can apply based on the curriculum of their home country.
Requirements
Mature students can apply to Trent based on previous education and professional or volunteer experience.
Requirements
With many transfer agreements and flexible pathway options, Trent University makes it easy for students to make the most of the credits you have already earned.
Tuition Estimate
Estimate your tuition, ancillary fees, and potential entrance scholarships based on your program, residency status, and academic average.
Tuition
Base Tuition Fee
$6,240.85
Ancillary Fees
Ancillary Fees (non-tuition costs supporting student services, such as athletics, campus safety, college fees, etc.)
$2,122.22
Total:
$ 8,363.07
* The tuition details and scholarships listed are for domestic students only. International applicants should contact the financial aid office directly for equivalent guidance.
Scholarships
If you’re a top scholar with an average of 80% or higher, you qualify to automatically receive an entrance scholarship to Trent. Scholars with 95% or higher? You earn free first-year tuition – no application required.
| Entrance Average | Maximum Scholarship Potential | Details |
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| 95%+ | $18,241 | $6,241 first year Full Tuition + $4,000 x 3 years |
| 90-94.9% | $12,000 | $3,000 x 4 years |
| 85-89.9% | $8,000 | $2,000 x 4 years |
| 80-84.9% | $6,000 | $1,500 x 4 years |
* Available to Domestic students only. Based on 2026/27 tuition for a general arts and science program
Explore additional funding for domestic and international students