Stockbridge Sch of Agriculture 650 - GlobalChallenges/Agricltre&Env

The growing human population faces a crisis in food production matched by one in environmental degradation. Demands for food, forage, and biofuel crops and for a healthy and sustainable environment will increase, but climate change, loss of productive soils, decreasing availability of arable land and clean water, emerging and resurgent pests and diseases, and environmental pollution threaten our ability to maintain present levels of crop production and environmental quality. This course will address topics related to the challenges imposed by climate change and environmental contamination on plant growth and production, ecosystem integrity, soil health and ecology, and the sustainability of landscapes. Modern biotechnology, improving soil health through carbon and nutrient management, and developing climate resilient crop systems offer solutions to these problems. This course will be taught by a faculty team from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, using four themes: 1. Pathogen and pest issues and management in issues in agriculture. 2. Abiotic stresses and climate resilient crops. 3. Soil Health and resource management. 4. Soil contamination and remediation. Students will be assigned papers in the current scientific literature and expected to engage in weekly discussions and write analyses.

Required for all Plant and Soil Sci Grad program majors.