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 in agro-ecological systems and on building sustainable food systems.

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 agroecology and the food system. (3) Use SDGs in your case study as a target and assessment 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 research in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Focus of the seminar will be on: (1) Research in agro-ecological systems. 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) Building sustainable food systems: How could local food systems be build and scaled up?. The course will be organized with two workshops (half days, 14:00 - 18:00) and an self-study/ group work phase in between the workshops. 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. Case studies will include: • Case Study 1: How can Swiss farmers move to zero environmental impact? • Case Study 2: What influence do the consumers in developed (importing) countries have on sustainability of (mainly) small-holder farming in the developing (sourcing) countries? • Case Study 3: Sensor based fertilization techniques for sustainability? • Case Study 4: The sustainable development goals (SDG) and sustainable urban food systems. 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 agroecosystems More information: https://www.plantsciences.uzh.ch/en/teaching/masters/sustplantsys.html

Resources