Pork and Chicken Production
Global Pork Production In 2017 global pig meat production reached 120 million tonnes. China is the major producer at 54 million tonnes, followed by the EU with 24 million, the …
Course: Explore How Farmers Produce Food Sustainably
What is Arable Crop Production?
In this Step, we’ll look at the common processes that have conventionally been involved in growing arable crops – from seed to harvest. There are downsides to many of these …
What is Horticulture?
In the previous Step, you looked at the big picture of the sustainability of the food supply chain. In this Step, you’ll look in detail at the processes involved in …
An overview of livestock farming
Animal products like milk, meat and eggs have long been part of the human diet. They provide us with caloric energy and many essential nutrients. For example: A 250ml serving …
Challenges of sustainable farming
In this video, Professor Julian Park looks at economic, environmental and social sustainability in more detail, and discusses the work that farmers and researchers are conducting to make farming practices …
Arable farming: Top 5 technologies
Last Week, we introduced the concept of ‘precision agriculture’. This term describes a range of practices that use technology to provide crops with precisely (no more and no less than …
Dairy farming
In this video, from the Centre of Dairy Research at the University of Reading, Dr Marie Dittmann explains how dairy cows are kept today. Cow health and welfare has a …
Welcome to Week 3
Welcome to Week 3! Last week, you explored what arable farming is and how arable crops are grown. We hope that you’ll now have a good understanding of some of …
Livestock Farming Technology
Most of the challenges that livestock farmers face are directly related to the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, economic, and social. The future of livestock farming will depend on collaboration …
Reasons for Food Loss
A big problem in the food supply system is food loss and food waste. In this Step, you will explore the differences between the two terms, and what this means …
Welcome to Week 2
Welcome back! In Week 1 you explored how your food is produced as well as frameworks for examining sustainable production, such as the three pillars of sustainable agriculture. You also …
Summary of Week 1
You started this Week considering the meaning of sustainability, gaining an insight into the challenges of sustainable farming. You were then introduced to the global food supply system to better …
Can organic farming feed the world?
Over the last few decades, intensification practices in agriculture have helped to increase yields. Conventional farming methods, which include the use of agrochemicals for plant growth and pest and disease …
Welcome to the course
Welcome to ‘Explore how farmers produce food sustainably’, a European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) Food online course produced by the University of Reading, the University of Hohenheim, Koppert …
Sustainability and the global food supply chain
To understand the challenges farmers face, it’s important to understand the entire food supply chain and the demands of the consumer. Understanding the food supply chain Before it gets to …