Agroecosystems

About the program

The knowledge needed to work in the agriculture industry takes on many forms and can come from a range of disciplines. Advances in agricultural practice are often made by combining concepts, philosophies and designs from different areas to develop new techniques, evaluate production systems, identify innovations and risks or discover principles on which future farming systems can be based. To continually develop and improve agriculture in Australia and across the world, graduates are needed with expertise to bring new ideas and innovations together to come up with novel solutions and radical innovations.

Students in this program will be provided with an overview of agroecosystems and the opportunity to develop expertise on one of the three majors:

• plant production
• animal production
• soil science and hydrology

Students will develop knowledge and skills to explain the major science behind the drivers of change in agricultural. Students will also develop strong multi-disciplinary understanding of agricultural practices and innovations. The flexibility of unit choice throughout this program, while continuing to focus on agricultural production systems, will allow students the unique opportunity to combine knowledge from a number of other disciplines.

Requirements for completion

The Agroecosystems program requirements are listed in the Agroecosystems unit of study table.

Contact and further information

W http://sydney.edu.au/science/life-environment/
E

Example pathways

Students must take a major in either Animal Production, Plant Production, or Soil Science and Hydrology.

Learning Outcomes

Students who graduate from Agroecosystems will be able to:

1. Exhibit a deep and integrated understanding of agriculture and its related sciences and explain the role and relevance of agriculture in society.
2. Exhibit a broad and coherent body of knowledge in the ecology of both natural and unmanaged environments and integrate concepts across sub-disciplines.
3. Examine relevant agricultural production systems and their value chains, with specialist knowledge in at least one area.
4. Assess the contexts within which producers, processors and consumers make decisions and how current agricultural knowledge contributes to these decisions.
5. Communicate concepts and findings in agroecosystems through a range of modes for a variety of audiences, using evidence-based arguments that are robust to critique.
6. Integrate knowledge from ecology, environmental science and agricultural subdisciplines and apply to both natural and agricultural systems.
7. Evaluate how biophysical, economic, social and policy drivers underpin agricultural practice across cultural perspectives and can contribute to changes in practice.
8. Address authentic problems in agroecosystems, working professionally and ethically within collaborative, interdisciplinary teams.
9. Assess the applications of economics, business and social sciences to agriculture and agricultural operations, working responsibly and ethically across diverse social and cultural settings.