Distance learning course on urban agriculture

NEW: Distance learning course Urban Agriculture Types

January-April 2009



Urban agriculture is increasingly being considered as a strategy for
building more resilient cities. Triggered by the current global food
and economic crisis, governments and civil society organizations are
promoting its development to enhance urban food security and health,
alleviate poverty and strengthen urban livelihoods, support community
building, contribute to urban environmental management and greening,
and provide educational and recreational services.



Urban Agriculture is a dynamic concept that involves input supply,
production, agro-processing and marketing of food and non-food
products in and around urban areas. Successful policies and action
programmes should take into account the variation in types of urban
farming, each with their own characteristics and specific potentials
and limitations vis-à-vis the realization of certain policy goals.



The course "Urban Agriculture Types" is the third course in a series
of 4 courses developed by Ryerson University's G. Raymond Chang School
of Continuing Education and Centre for Studies in Food Security
(www.ryerson.ca/foodsecurity) in partnership with ETC-Urban
Agriculture (www.etc-urbanagriculture.org) and the international
network of Resource centres on Urban Agriculture and Food security
(RUAF) (www.ruaf.org). This specific course will start discussing
various urban agriculture production systems -such as home-gardening,
community gardening, school and institutional gardens, small-scale
commercial horticulture, livestock or aquatic production, large-scale
(peri)urban agriculture enterprises, urban forestry and
multi-functional farms - in terms of their resource-use, location,
policy and institutional frameworks, functions, technical aspects,
development challenges and support needs. Moreover, it will look into
urban agriculture input supply, processing and marketing systems. The
course will discuss which of these urban agriculture types can best be
promoted in a given situation, where in the city, and how this could
best be done. It will specifically look into a methodology for
farmer-centered learning, research and extension for urban agriculture
development. Examples and case studies from around the world will be
used for further illustration and learning.



The course fees amount to Canadian dollars (CAD) $474. This fee
applies both for Canadian and international students.

For further information on course content and enrolment, please contact:



Reg Noble, PhD
Academic Coordinator
Certificate in Food Security
Continuing Education, Ryerson University

Email: food@ryerson.ca