Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

Information Session November 26 2014

Background of the SAFS Program
where it came from, how it has developed
Degree structures (as in 2015/2016 Calendar)
what the degrees are designed to do
Future developments
what were working on
Ideas and Questions?
help shape the program!
Want more information?
Sbocking@trentu.ca

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

Degree Options
SAFS B.A.
The political, social, economic, and cultural dimensions of
food and agriculture: in our region, in Canada, and in the
world

SAFS B.Sc.
Environmental science (and related scientific perspectives)
as applied to agriculture

SAFS Joint Major (now in review)

Combining SAFS studies with studies in another arts or
science major

Specialization in Applied Agriculture (Fleming)

If you want to farm

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

B.A. Program (SAFS) Courses
Year 1 Required courses
SAFS 1001H (Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems), ERSC 1010H
(Foundations of Environmental Science & Studies) and 1020H (Cases in
Environmental Science & Studies), GEOG 1030H (Human Geographies in Global
Context) and 1040H (Earths Physical Processes and Environments), IDST 1001H and
1002H (Human Inequality in Global Perspective)
An introductory overview of sustainable agriculture
A foundation in environmental science/studies, geography, and international
development studies

Year 2 Required courses

SAFS 2350H (Ecological Agriculture), 2360H (Agriculture & Agricultural Alternatives),
2500H (The World Food System), 2600H (Peasants, Food, & Agrarian Change);
3 of ERSC 2240H (Ecological Assessment for Natural Resource Management), ERST
2100H (Environmental Science & Politics), 2510H (Qualitative Methods in Geography
& Environmental Studies), 2520H (Natural Resource Management), 2525H (Critical
Environmental Thinking)
An overview of ecological agriculture
The world food system & food production in rural communities in the global south
A foundation in environmental studies

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

B.A. Program (SAFS) Courses
Years 3 & 4 Required courses
SAFS 3340H (The Canadian Food System: Community Perspectives &
Experiences), 3370H (Organic Agriculture), 3602H (Environment &
Development), 3820H (Culture & Food), 4002H (Seminar in Sustainable
Agriculture & Food Systems Studies), 4100H (Canadian Food & Agriculture
Policy), 4610H (Global Environmental Policy), ERST 3300Y (Environmental
Ethics);
3 of SAFS 2820Y (Food in History), 3634H (Introduction to Indigenous Food
Systems), 3746H (Anthropology of Drinks & Drinking), 3850H (Anthropology of
Food in Film), 4444H (Rural Community Sustainability), 4830H (Anthropology
of Food Politics), GEOG 3760H (The Rural-Urban Fringe)
food and local & rural community development
how we produce & consume food, examined from political, social, historical,
cultural & Indigenous perspectives
food production & distribution, from the local to the global scale: the politics,
ethics and environmental implications of agriculture in the context of global trade

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

B.Sc. Program (SAFS) Courses

Year 1 Required courses

SAFS 1001H (Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems), BIOL 1020H
(Current Issues in Biology), ERSC 1010H (Foundations of Environmental Science &
Studies) and 1020H (Cases in Environmental Science & Studies), GEOG 1030H (Human
Geographies in Global Context) and 1040H (Earths Physical Processes and
Environments), MATH 1051H and 1052H (Non-Calculus-Based Introduction to Probability
& Statistical Methods)
An introductory overview of sustainable agriculture
A foundation in environmental science/studies, biology, and geography
Math (required for all Trent B.Sc. Degrees)

Year 2 Required courses

SAFS 2350H (Ecological Agriculture), 2360H (Agriculture & Agricultural Alternatives),
2500H (World Food System); BIOL 2260H (Introductory Ecology), 2290H (Plants in
Society), ERSC 2220H (Environmental Assessment: Chemical & Laboratory Methods),
2240H (Ecological Assessment for Natural Resource Management);
GEOG 2080H (Natural Science Statistics) or 2090H (Introduction to GIS)
An overview of ecological agriculture
An overview of the world food system the social context of agricultural science
An introduction to ecology & plant study
Techniques & principles of environmental science

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

B.Sc. Program (SAFS) Courses
Years 3 & 4 Required courses
SAFS 3002H (Environmental Implications of Agriculture), 3110H (Agricultural Entomology),
3370H (Organic Agriculture), 4001H (Seminar in Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems
Science);
BIOL 3180H (Plants in Action) or 4200H (Plant Ecology);
GEOG 2530H (Water Resources);
2 of SAFS 3500H (Food Science), 3560H (Soil Science), 3650H (Soil Management &
Conservation);
2 of SAFS 4100H (Canadian Food & Agriculture Policy), 4270H (Integrated Nutrient
Management), 4440H (Nutritional Anthropology), 4650H (Climate Change, Agriculture &
Food Security);
2 of ERSC 4350H (Climatic Change), 4520H (Restoration Ecology), 4530H (Remediation &
Reclamation of Sites), 4640H (Integrated Watershed Management)
Scientific perspectives on specific components of agricultural systems: soil, water, climate,
plants, and insects
Specific topics relating to food and agriculture: organic agriculture, nutrition, food science,
plant ecology, nutrient management, and the implications of climate change for agriculture
Theory & practice in fields related to agricultural science: climate change, ecological
restoration, watershed management

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

B.A. & B.Sc. Program (SAFS)
Whats new for next year:

Joint Major: combine SAFS with another Major

New & redesigned courses & cross-listings:

SAFS 3370H: Organic Agriculture

SAFS 3602H: Environment and Development
SAFS 3746H: Anthropology of Drinks and Drinking
SAFS 3840H: Anthropology of Food in Film
SAFS 4100H: Canadian Food & Agriculture Policy (in 2016/2017)
SAFS 4610H: Global Environmental Policy
SAFS 4650H: Climate Change, Agriculture, and Food Security

Experiential opportunities:

SAFS 1001H: out in the field (in the fall)

SAFS 3340H: expanded community experience

Looking ahead:

New courses: Weeds; Pollinators; Agricultural Philosophy & Ethics; Planting the Campus
Community-based options
Research internships
Summer session

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

B.A. & B.Sc. Program (SAFS)
Whats new for next year: The SAFS Joint Major
BACHELOR OF ARTS PROGRAM IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE & FOOD SYSTEMS
The joint-major Honours program. 20.0 credits including the following 8.0 credits:

2.0 SAFS credits consisting of SAFS 1001H (2001H), 2350H (3350H), 2360H
(3360H), and 2500H

1.0 ERSC credit consisting of ERSC 1010H and 1020H (or 1000Y)

1.0 IDST credit consisting of IDST 1001H and 1002H (or 1000Y)

3.0 SAFS credits in addition to the above at the 2000 level or beyond

1.0 credit from ERST-PHIL 3300Y, SAFS 3602H, or SAFS 4610H

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE PROGRAM IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE & FOOD
SYSTEMS
The joint-major Honours program. 20.0 credits including the following 8.0 credits:

3.0 SAFS credits consisting of SAFS 1001H (2001H), 2350H (3350H), 2360H
(3360H), 3002H (2002H), 3110H, and 3370H

2.0 SAFS credits in addition to the above at the 3000 level or beyond

0.5 BIOL credit consisting of BIOL 1020H

0.5 BIOL credit from BIOL 2260H or 2290H

2.0 ERSC credits consisting of ERSC 1010H, 1020H (or 1000Y), 2220H, and 2240H

Specialization in Applied Agriculture

(Fleming College)
All about the practice of farming
Focus is on the principles and practices of
sustainable agriculture and small farm operations and
viability
Develop your own business case and farm plan
Receive 1.0 2000-level & 2.0 3000-level SAFS credits
Beginning in January of Year 4
Applications due April 1