Sustainable Food Systems

The Sustainable Food System degree is for students interested and passionate about the three pillars of Sustainability (environmental, economic, and social) and how they apply to all components of the food chain. This course will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the entire food chain, from on farm production to human consumption and the scientific principles underpinning it. It will explore the complex challenge of sustainably producing food to meet the nutritional requirements of a growing world population while protecting the planet’s limited natural resources.

Skills to analyse and evaluate the sustainability of food systems will be developed and how to apply knowledge learned to a practical real-world industry setting through engagement with peers, lectures, and professional work experience. Whether interested in farming, food processing, food policy or the environment, this course will provide students with a holistic understanding of the food system in conjunction with the tools to contribute to the future of how we produce, distribute, and consume food in a sustainable way.

Click here to Download Course Pathways document.

In first and second year, students will focus on the development of the key basic sciences that underpin food systems. Students will also be introduced to some of the core concepts relating to Sustainable Food Systems. Students will have option and elective modules in addition to core modules (examples of such are included below):

First & Second Year

Introduction to • Chemistry • Mathematics for Agriculture • Introduction to Sustainability • Land Use and the Environment • Introduction to Agricultural Economics and Business • Food and Planet • Animal Biology and Evolution • Plants and People • Food Diet and Health • Food Systems-Industry • Principles of Crop Science • Forests, Climate and Carbon • Sustainable Animal Production • Social Science, Food Culture and Traditions

Third & Fourth Year

Third and fourth year will focus on data analysis, agri-food policy and concepts such as Circular Bioeconomy and One Health and how they apply to Sustainable Food Systems (examples included below). Students will have option and elective modules to choose from to allow them learn more about areas of specific interest to them.

Environmental Data and Modelling • Food Poverty and Policy • Agri-Environmental Issues and Policy • Circular Bioeconomy • Agrichemicals and the Environment • Climate, Carbon, and Soil • Scientific Writing and Review • Sustainable Food Packaging and Waste Management • Life Cycle Assessment • Developments in Food Systems • Food Chain Integrity • One Health: Plants, Animals, Humans, Environment • Sustainability in the Human Diet • Sustainable Food Systems Project.

Professional Work Experience (PWE)

A 16-weeks period of structured professional work experience takes place in third year. Assisted by a dedicated lecturer, students arrange this industry placements themselves. The industry placement is an excellent opportunity to get new experiences, make industry contacts, and put theory from classes to practical use.

You can elect to study abroad for one trimester in year three. There are 25 partner universities as part of the School’s Semester Abroad Programme including Universities such as Lincoln University, Massey University, Michigan State University, Purdue University and University of California (UC Davis).

Sustainable Food Systems highlight practices that conserve natural resources, reduce waste, support biodiversity, enhance resilience to climate change, and foster social equity. Graduates of the Sustainability programme will be in great demand across the entire food system including in food processing, retail, distribution, sales and marketing, public sector (government departments, county councils, European agencies, international agencies), farm bodies, policy agencies, NGO and as entrepreneurs.

A 16-weeks period of structured professional work experience takes place in third year. Assisted by a dedicated lecturer, students arrange this industry placements themselves. This placement may be taken abroad if a suitable placement can be secured. The industry placement is an excellent opportunity get new experiences, make industry contacts, and put theory from classes to practical use.

• Open Learning Entry Route
• Mature Entry Route
• DARE Entry Route
• HEAR Entry Route
• University Access

Dr. Zoe McKay,
e. zoe.mckay@ucd.ie

School of Agriculture and Food Science,
University College Dublin,
Belfield, Dublin 4.

Contact Us

Sustainable Food Systems highlights practices that conserve natural resources, reduce waste, support biodiversity, enhance resilience to climate change, and foster social equity. This vision of sustainability fits very closely with the expertise within the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science where the teaching and research programmes span the entire food chain, from on-farm food production to human nutrition and health, providing a diverse range of career opportunities for graduates in Ireland and internationally. The mission of the school is to develop and apply the science and scholarship of agriculture, food, environmental sciences, and rural development for the benefit of society through excellence in education, research, innovation and continuing professional development.

The Sustainable Food Systems Programme at UCD has been designed to develop knowledge of food production systems, policy, principles, practices, and technologies alongside developing students understanding of the three pillars of sustainability and the impacts on food production and consumption. In addition to this the programme relates to the relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s): 

• No Poverty (SDG 1)
• No Hunger (SDG 2)
• Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)
• Climate Action (SDG 13)
• Life Below Water (SDG 14)
• Life on Land (SDG 15)

Non-EU Undergraduate Fee information can be found here.

UCD offers a number of competitive undergraduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD undergraduate degree programme. For information on Undergraduate Scholarships, please see the UCD International Scholarships webpage.