• University of Leeds
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Climate Change and Resilience in Food Systems

Learn new research-led strategies designed to mitigate the effects of climate change on agriculture and food systems.

5,071 enrolled on this course

Farmers in Africa creating sustainable food sources

Climate Change and Resilience in Food Systems

5,071 enrolled on this course

  • 2 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Accreditation available

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

Learn about the effects of climate change and how to build resilience in agriculture and food systems.

Even small climate changes can have large-scale consequences in agriculture and food systems with devastating effects for the people and their economies. On this course, you will learn strategies designed to mitigate the impact of climate change, develop resilient food systems and create sustainable development in local communities.

Explore new research methods that help us predict the impact of climate change on agriculture and food systems.

After understanding the concept of a food system, you’ll be introduced to the GCRF-AFRICAP programme and learn new methods that are being developed and used to analyse future direct and indirect climate impacts on African food systems. You’ll then investigate how scenario approaches and modelling tools are being used to inform policy responses.

Learn how to build resilience in agricultural and food systems in your own country.

Through case studies exploring diversifying food production and conservation agriculture in sub-Saharan countries, you will understand some of the strategies that are being implemented to build food system resilience. You will evaluate these strategies’ benefits and costs to communities, policymakers, and donors. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to apply ideas and concepts for building climate resilience in agriculture and food systems in your own country.

This course was funded by UK Research and Innovation as part of the Global Challenges Research Fund, grant numbers BB/P027784/1 and EP/T02397X/1. The development of this course has been supported by the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network, Chatham House, and the UK Met Office.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 8 seconds Stephen Whitfield: Malnutrition affects approximately 20% of the African population. And this is a challenge that’s been exacerbated by the impacts of climate change. Agriculture and food systems are critical. They must adapt to increase the availability and accessibility of nutritious food for a growing population, become resilient to climate change, contribute to alleviating poverty, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, prevent land degradation, and more. This course introduces you to the AFRICAP Research Program, which explores ways to make agriculture and food systems in Sub-Saharan Africa more productive, sustainable, and resilient to climate change. You’ll investigate methods to help predict the impact of climate change on food systems and evaluate how communities, policymakers, and donors can respond to these impacts.

Skip to 1 minute and 5 seconds By the end of this course, you’ll be able to critically assess options for building climate resilience and food systems in your own country. If you’re interested in the effects of climate change and building resilience in agriculture and food systems, we look forward to welcoming you to this course.

What topics will you cover?

  • The effects of climate change on agriculture and food systems
  • Using modelling to project future effects of climate change
  • Using scenario building to project future effects of climate change
  • Changing food consumption patterns in Zambia
  • Using conservation agriculture techniques in Malawi
  • Driving transformation in agriculture and food systems

Who is this accredited by?

The CPD Certification Service
The CPD Certification Service:

This course has been accredited by the CPD Certification Service, which means it can be used to provide evidence of your continuing professional development.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Describe the characteristics of agriculture and food systems.
  • Identify the drivers and challenges impacting food systems over the twenty-first century, with a particular emphasis on climate change.
  • Investigate the interplay between different drivers of food systems change.
  • Engage with and apply methods used to describe possible future scenarios for various food systems and agricultural production.
  • Evaluate forecasts for climate impacts on food systems and agricultural production.
  • Explore examples of strategies and policies used to adapt to change in African food systems.
  • Engage with the methods and outcomes of the GCRF-AFRICAP programme's research.
  • Assess options for building climate resilience in food systems.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone interested in the effects of climate change and creating resilience and sustainability in food production and food systems.

The strategies and techniques presented in the course are based on research that has taken place in various sub-Saharan African countries but they can be used in other parts of Africa and across the world.

The course will be particularly useful if you have an interest or a background in agriculture, environment or food science and you want to learn how current research can have a positive effect on communities.

Since the course examines the implementation of these strategies across a food system where different parties other than farmers are involved, it can provide inspiration to policymakers, charities and other non-governmental organisations

Who will you learn with?

Associate Professor in Climate Change and Food Security at the University of Leeds.
For more information see: https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/see/staff/1606/dr-stephen-whitfield

Research Fellow at the University of Leeds. For more information see: https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/see/staff/1543/dr-harriet-elizabeth-smith

Who developed the course?

University of Leeds

As one of the UK’s largest research-based universities, the University of Leeds is a member of the prestigious Russell Group and a centre of excellence for teaching.

Africap

GCRF-Agricultural and Food System Resilience: Increasing Capacity and Advising Policy (AFRICAP) is a £9.2 million programme to make agriculture and food production in sub-Saharan Africa more productive, sustainable and resilient to climate change.

Working with local organisations and governments in Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia, we are creating an evidence base to underpin new country-specific policies in agriculture and food production.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$109/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 12 Apr 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

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