This course aims to provide a farmer-friendly introductin to sustainability concepts - linked to SFS and to farm resilience/profitability.

It will demystify the purpose of environmental measures and encourage learners to explore what can be done on their own farms for the benefits of the business and environment.

From it learners can progress to more in-depth short courses (soil, IPM and LCA) or to full Postgraduate modules.

f you are based in Wales and eligible for Farming Connect funding, please gain approval from Farming Connect before applying for a discount on this course. 

Course Description

Content:

• Balancing climate, nature, food security
  • What is an agrifood system? From land to diets
  • Systems thinking: seeing connections, trade-offs and hotspots
  • Map your own agrifood system (quick template) / Where do you see the biggest opportunities for change
• Grasslands in action: productivity, biodiversity and water
  • Grazing management 
  • Common land-use hotspots (soil loss, nutrients, habitat pressure
• Livestock:  Management and impact hotspots
  • Livestock in sustainable food systems
  • Health and Welfare
  • Feed, genetics, management and resource use
  • Emissions and nutrients
• Climate Solutions toolkit - LCA, circularity and carbon removal 
  • Climate mitigation, adaption and resilience
  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
  • How to take a good sample
  • Circular economy: turning waste and by-products into value
  • Carbon removal (GGR): basics, benefits and credibility checks
  • A simple LCA-Style hotspot scan (guided worksheet)
• Innovation and behaviour change 
  • Technology, business models and collaboration
  • Simple field assessments: spade test, aggregate stability, earthworms
  • Drivers and barriers to change
  • Behaviour change basics 
  • Designing practical interventions: small steps, big impact