Ecological Foundations of Agroecology
ALE 6120
Ecology explores the complex relationships that living beings have with each other and with their surroundings. Agroecology centers these relationships in the design and maintenance of just and resilient farming and food systems.
Program Snapshot
Next Start DateSpring 2025 | How OftenEvery Spring | Learning FormatOnline | Online Learning TypeSynchronous |
Required Group MeetingsTBD | Duration15 Weeks | Time Commitment6-8 hours/week | CredentialUVM Credit or Digital Badge |
Course Overview
From genetics to agroecological management strategies
Ecological relationships and processes form the foundation of agroecosystems, or the landscapes in which food is produced. This course highlights how food production is inherently tied to ecosystem health and functioning. We do this by moving from the micro to the macro - learning about genetics and evolutionary processes and building on that foundational knowledge to understand complex ecological processes and relationships at farm and landscape scales. Throughout the course, we conceptualize humans -and therefore social factors- as inherently part of ecosystems and ecological processes.
COURSE DAYS & TIMES:
Spring 2025 Semester: TBD
Required online meetings every week; time to be determined
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Identify the foundational elements of ecologically resilient agroecosystems
- Integrate multiple forms of ecological knowledge to form a holistic understanding of agroecosystem functioning
- Articulate how and why social forces are inherently part of ecological processes
- Recognize the social and biophysical factors and processes that influence agroecosystem functioning
- Apply core concepts of ecology to agroecological management strategies
- Communicate the ecological justification for ‘land sharing’ approaches to conservation and agroecology
Curriculum
MODULE 1 – Ecology & Evolution
In this module, we explore evolutionary ecology and the ways that evolution shapes agroecosystems. We begin with the micro, exploring genetic diversity, and move on to consider population biology, species interactions, landscape ecology, and ecological complexity.
MODULE 2 - Soil Health & Agroecology
Building on content from module 1, we explore soil health and the ways that above- and below-ground species interactions are interconnected. We begin to apply core ecological concepts and relationships to agroecological soil management practices.
MODULE 3 – Understanding the Ecology in Agroecological Management
In the final module, we apply learning from modules 1 and 2 to agroecological practices and management strategies, such as agroforestry, rotational grazing, and diversified farming systems. We interrogate the ecological and management implications of labeling certain species as weeds and pests. The course culminates with students applying their learning to visualize ecological processes and relationships within an agroecosystem of their own design.
Instructors
