"Movie Master ENR - Agroecology and Food Systems"

The food system is facing enormous challenges. Inequalities, environmental degradation, scarcity and overabundance characterise the conventional system. Alternative forms of food production and distribution as well as changes in eating habits are urgently needed. In the Agroecology and Food Systems specialisation, you will come to know different approaches to sustainable food production and nutrition. The focus is on approaches from agroecology, regional value chains and fair trade relationships. The close interactions between humans and the environment are an integral part of the course. With the research groups of the ZHAW, and thanks to the collaboration with the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), you have a wide range of specialisation options to choose from.

Competencies

As a Master of Science ZHAW in Environment and Natural Resources specialising in Agroecology and Food Systems...

• you know the economic, social and political relationships that influence the global and Swiss food systems.
• you develop alternative concepts for sustainable agriculture based on agroecological principles.
• you identify sustainability conflicts within the food value chain and design solutions regarding sustainable production methods and supply chains.
• you devise innovative strategies to promote sustainable nutrition.

Course content

In this specialisation, you will get to know different approaches for sustainable food production and nutrition. The focus is on approaches to agroecology, regional value chains and fair trade relationships.

You will consider the following questions throughout the course:

• What potential does the production and marketing of new crops like quinoa have in Switzerland?
• What new approaches exist as an alternative to today's agriculture and what are the risks?
• How can agriculture in mountain areas and in cities, keyword urban agriculture, contribute to sustainable development?
• How can the sustainability of food be assessed, for example with life cycle assessments?
• How can consumers be motivated to make more sustainable consumption decisions?

We were also concerned with these questions during the international summer school on the subject of agrobiodiversity:

Master’s Studio

In the Master's Studio, you specialise in sustainable value chains or in consumption, in different areas of agriculture, rural development or tourism. You benefit from our network in industry and research, and have the opportunity to carry out projects abroad with industry partners in the field.

As part of the Master's thesis, you develop your ideas and concepts for solving scientific challenges. This enables you to tackle complex issues independently in your subsequent professional occupation.

Examples from previous Master's theses in the Agroecology and Food Systems specialisation:

• Aline Roth (2020): The impact of the aging generation issue on the cocoa farmer's livelihood in the region Alto Beni, Bolivia
  Aline Roth Master's thesis took her to Bolivia, however, by ship! There she conducted numerous interviews with coffee farmers to get to the bottom of the challenges of ageing and to develop solutions.
• Stephan Gysi (2020): Innovation and Diversification through Niche Crops—Potential and Suitability for Switzerland (winner of the SVIAL-Award).
  Stefan Gysi went searching for suitable new crops to diversify Swiss agriculture. Perhaps sesame, almonds and peanuts will no longer have to be imported in the future?
• Fabienne Vukotic (2019): Chancen und Hindernisse für eine regionale Lebensmittelversorgung der Stadt Zürich (in German only)
  How can a regional food supply be strengthened? In her Master's thesis, Fabienne Vukotic gained a comprehensive insight into the producers' point of view.

Research groups

The central aspect of your Master's degree is your participation in your chosen research group. This individual specialisation makes up half of the degree programme and gives you in-depth insights into research and development work. In this way, you already build up a professional network during your studies.

Unsure which research group to choose for your master's degree? Come to an info event on campus, we will be happy to advise you.