• University of Reading

The Future of Farming: Exploring Climate Smart Agriculture

How can we adapt farming to an uncertain future? Could the answer be Climate Smart Agriculture? Find out with this free course.

12,762 enrolled on this course

  • Duration

    3 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours

Can Climate Smart Agriculture help farming meet the challenges of climate change

Global warming is a reality so it’s vital our societies and industries respond to the changing climate. Can farming meet this challenge?

Explore the principles and practical applications of Climate Smart Agriculture: mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, adaption to climate change and stable or increased food production in the context of European dairy farming and wine production.

How does farming impact on global warming and greenhouse gases? What are the barriers to adopting CSA and how can these be addressed?

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What topics will you cover?

Week 1:

  • Climate change and greenhouse gases
  • The interactions between climate change and agriculture
  • Food security
  • Climate smart agriculture; history, principles and examples
  • Different views on the food production system

Week 2:

  • The basics of milk production, cow husbandry, digestion and herd management
  • Greenhouse gas emissions and the possibilities for reducing them, within dairy farming
  • The importance of plants for our atmosphere
  • Other forms of sustainable farming
  • Possible options for reducing energy consumption

Week 3:

  • The basics of wine production
  • General, sustainable crop management practices
  • Problems for the wine industry created by climate change
  • Possibilities for adapting the wine industry to climate change
  • Examples of how data can be used to help make decisions in agriculture
  • Critical views regarding climate smart agriculture

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...

  • Investigate the interactions between climate change and agriculture, including basic facts about the effects of climate change and the most important greenhouse gases
  • Describe the principles of climate smart agriculture, in particular the three pillars of mitigation, adaptation and productivity
  • Explore the basics of milk and wine production, possible future problems in these sectors and how they can be subject to adaptation and mitigation
  • Discuss the complexity of food production systems, why it can be difficult to implement climate smart agriculture and other forms of sustainable farming, and how the effects can be measured
  • Reflect on how consumer behaviour, policies and regulations, and financial aspects influence the adoption of climate smart and other sustainable practices

Who is the course for?

There are no special requirements for this course. It will be of interest to anyone who wants to learn more about modern food production, farming and environmental challenges.

Who will you learn with?

I am an animal scientist, with a particular interest in nutrition, metabolism, and behaviour of animals, as well as agriculture.

I am an academic interested in effects of climate change on agriculture and forestry. I specialise in studying ecosystem productivity, carbon cycling and the link between diversity and stability.

I am a post-doctoral researcher with a background in plant physiology, agronomy, and agricultural economics. I work mostly on sustainable farming, as well as issues of healthy and sustainable diets.

Who developed the course?

University of Reading

The University of Reading has a reputation for excellence in teaching, research and enterprise.

Endorsers and supporters

supported by

Climate Smart Agriculture logo

supported by

EIT Climate logo

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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