Program Overview

Programme: Crop Production and Soil Management

The Programme: Crop Production and Soil Management is an online programme that aims to address the challenge of feeding nine billion people in 2050 without overwhelming the planetary reserves. This programme combines the principles of production ecology and the ‘availability pillar’ of global food security with an introduction to environmental studies, specifically the importance of soil.

Programme Details

• Organised by: Wageningen Academy
• Duration: 3 months, 7-9 hours per week
• Price: EUR 337.00

What You'll Learn

• Learn about the main issues in global food production and consumption, including regional differences.
• Study the impact of water, nutrients, pests, diseases, and weeds on food crop production.
• Evaluate environmental problems caused by food crop production and evaluate solutions.
• Assess yield gaps in different regions and judge innovations in food crop production.
• Understand the importance of soils and sustainable soil management, including threats, functions, degradation, and socio-economic and policy aspects.
• Investigate solutions for soil erosion, pollution, compaction, and salinization, and contribute to discussions on soil protection.

Why Follow This Programme?

Feeding nine billion people in 2050 without overwhelming the planetary reserves is a crucial challenge for humankind. This online programme will examine both crop and animal production, as well as the societal and environmental challenges facing our food systems and soil.

The Fundamentals

The professors will lead participants through the basics of crop production and the underlying bio-physical principles that shape the wide diversity of production systems, while also identifying constraining factors in yield formation and explaining how to assess yield gaps.

Environmental Focus

The programme will delve into the threats facing our soil, such as deforestation, erosion, overgrazing, use of agrochemicals, compaction, pollution, and climate change, and equip students with the knowledge and skills to make a difference in protecting this vital natural resource.

Job Outlook

• In general, any job or sector that involves food production, environmental sustainability, or resource management could benefit from the programme.
  • Agriculture and agribusiness: Farmers, agronomists, agribusiness professionals, etc.
  • Environmental science and sustainability: Environmental scientists, sustainability consultants, etc.
  • Development and aid: Development professionals, aid workers, etc.
  • Research and education: Researchers, educators, etc.
  • Government and policy: Policymakers, government agencies, etc.

Content of the Programme

• MOOC Soil4Life: Sustainable Soil Management: Soil for Life Soil is the earth’s fragile skin that anchors all life. We depend on soil to build our homes and cities, to grow crops for food and raise livestock, to support transportation and enable recreation. Yet we disregard this crucial and precious resource that lies right under our feet. Learn why soil is so important, how it's being threatened and what we can do to protect this natural resource so vital to our lives.
• MOOC Sustainable Food Security: Crop Production: How to feed the world without depleting our planet’s reserves? Learn the basics of crop production.

Coordinated by

• Prof.dr. CJ (Coen) Ritsema: Course leader
• Dr.ir. MJPM (Michel) Riksen: Course leader
• Dr. J (Jerry) Maroulis: Course leader
• Prof. KE (Ken) Giller: Course leader

Related Education

• Programme: Animal Breeding and Genetics
• Programme: Nutrition and Disease
• Programme: Tourism in Transition: Exploring a Sustainable Future
• Programme: Food Security and Sustainability
• Programme: Animal Behaviour in Science and Conservation