Understanding Sustainable Farming: Principles and Practices

This course will encourage you to explore how the interest in, and practice of, sustainable farming is growing. You will see that although the mainstream agricultural model is widely recognized as unsustainable, there is a wide divergence of views on how to create a more sustainable system. You will begin by exploring the ecological, economic, and social-justice principles of sustainable farming. Following this, you will critically examine different approaches that are being touted as forms of sustainable agriculture including organic farming, food justice certification, and the use of genetically engineered crops. You will conclude with a review of tools and strategies that non-profit organizations, governments, and businesses can draw upon to enhance agricultural sustainability.