Humans need to eat, and while this shared necessity unites us in many ways, discovering new ways to sustainably grow enough food for seven billion people

has become an increasingly crucial global challenge. By studying sustainable agriculture, students can learn to create food systems that are responsible, justice- oriented, efficient, effective, and viable. In this program, students will examine the pathways between farm and table and their implications for people, the economy, and the planet. Students will learn about the challenges and benefits of producing and distributing healthy, affordable food in sustainable ways, and prepare for a career in which they can affect change and positively impact their community.

The Specialization in Small-scale Farming provides students in Trent University’s one-of-a-kind Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (B.A. or B.Sc.) program with a comprehensive background and hands-on experience in growing food and contributing to resilient regional food systems.

Through a new, intensive hands-on field course, that covers the principles of vegetable and field crops in terms of sustainable management on the Trent Model Farm, students study the principles to cultivate crops including field preparing, soil and nutrient management, seeding, pest management, irrigation techniques, harvest and post-harvest.