Sustainable Agrifood Systems: Land, Livestock & Climate Solutions

Rethink the future of food, farming, and sustainability

Food systems shape every part of global life, from the health of our soils and landscapes to the future of climate resilience, resource use, and sustainable development.

On this online course from Aberystwyth University, you’ll examine how agrifood systems work and how they can be redesigned to support healthier ecosystems, more resilient farming practices, and more sustainable futures.

Moving from supply systems to soils, livestock, and sustainability measurement, the course introduces key ideas that connect environmental health, circular economy thinking, and land-based climate solutions.

Examine how agrifood supply systems work

Begin by unpacking what an agrifood supply system is and how different parts of the system connect, from production and land use to wider environmental and social impacts.

You’ll consider how food systems sit within broader sustainability challenges, including climate change, resource pressure, and the need to support more responsible production.

This foundation helps frame agrifood not as a single industry, but as a living system shaped by people, landscapes, policy, and climate.

Investigate soils, grasslands, and livestock futures

You’ll examine how living land systems can be designed and managed to support biodiversity, resilience, and long-term productivity.

From there, attention moves to livestock systems, considering how animal agriculture can be understood, improved, and reimagined within the context of sustainable development and climate solutions.

Measure impact through circular economy thinking

Lastly, on this course you’ll focus on how sustainability impacts are measured and communicated. The course introduces approaches to assessing environmental impact, resource use, and sustainability performance across agrifood systems.

This course is for learners interested in sustainable development, agrifood systems, environmental health, farming, land management, and climate solutions. It may also suit professionals working in agriculture, sustainability, policy, or food-related sectors.

This course is for learners interested in sustainable development, agrifood systems, environmental health, farming, land management, and climate solutions. It may also suit professionals working in agriculture, sustainability, policy, or food-related sectors.

• Explain key environmental, economic and social pressures affecting food and rural systems (population growth, resource constraints, climate change)
• Evaluate sustainable solutions across the land‑based, food‑processing and supply‑chain continuum
• Assess livestock health, welfare, nutrition and grazing strategies for sustainable farming
• Apply sustainability metrics to decision‑making e.g. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)