The Lancaster Environment Centre has developed an MSc in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security to train a new generation of researchers and policy makers in this developing area.

With the world's population fast approaching seven billion, one of the main challenges facing the human race is how to feed its people. It's estimated that a rise in food production of at least 50% will be needed by 2030 to meet increasing food demands, against a backdrop of accelerating climate change and increasingly unpredictable weather extremes.

Furthermore, society expects that this additional food will be delivered with reduced environmental impact and without greatly increasing the world's cropping area. The challenge is truly sustainable agriculture that meets both production and environmental targets.

However, food production itself is only part of the problem. Food security isn't just about exploiting scientific and technological advances to increase crop yields it's also about addressing the associated economic and social factors to enable people to access sufficient, safe and nutritious food. If we are to successfully address the issue of food insecurity, then some understanding of a broad range of underpinning issues is necessary. Increasingly, interdisciplinary training and research with an international focus will be required.

There is also a two year full-time International MSc (Research) in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security, which also comprises the six specialised taught modules, and includes a 12 month overseas research placement.

Modules:

• Dissertation Project
• Food Security, Agriculture and Climate Change
• Crop Protection
• Sustainable Soil Management
• Three optional modules from a selection of relevant Biological, Ecological, Environmental and Geographical modules (subject to change)