Sustainable Plant Systems (Seminar)

Abstract

Participants will be able to discuss and understand sustainability in the context of plant science research. A special focus will be on research on agro-ecological systems and farming system research.

Objective

Participants will be able to: (1) Review issues of sustainability in the context of plant science research and literature on sustainable agriculture and the food system. (2) Analyze and interact on several case studies in agro-ecology and the food system. (3) Use SDGs in your case study as a target and assessment system for sustainability in agriculture and in the food system.

Content

Future society has to feed nine billion people, therefore agriculture but also food, waste and resource management has to go hand in hand in the use of less resources. We will discuss current plant science research in the context of sustainability. Focus of the seminar will be on: (1) Research on agro-ecological systems and farming system research. Can we transform the impact of our agricultural practices below the planetary boundaries? Where does current research indicate on directions for a transformation of current practice? (2) The Sustainable Development Goals that should guide the current contributions of plant sciences: What research and innovation are necessary to contribute to the SDGs? (3) Building sustainable food systems: How could local food systems be build and scaled up? In this topic, our focus is on giving insight in policy strategies and local sustainability efforts to give the group of participants an opportunity to understand sustainability in the local societal context. The course will be organized with two workshops (half days, 14:00 - 18:00) and an intensive, well-structured self-study/ group work phase in between the workshops. Online learning material is for example provided on: •Nitrogen supply in tropical low input conservation agriculture •Nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture •Role of vascular plants in methane emissions from soil •Mycorrhizal symbioses for soil nutrient management in agro-ecosystems Case Studies: How do you farm sustainably? What influence do the consumers in developed (importing) countries have on sustainability of (mainly) small-holder farming in the developing (sourcing) countries? How can Swiss farmers move to zero environmental impact? Sensor based fertilization techniques for sustainability? The sustainable development goals (SDG) and sustainable urban food systems. More information: https://www.plantsciences.uzh.ch/en/teaching/masters/sustplantsys.html

Resources