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Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems

Regenerative, water-smart, and climate-resilient farming techniques for African smallholders.

4.12(308 ratings)
4,600 enrolledUpdated 2026-08
6 weeks 6 modules · 30 lessons ~1 hours of learning English Certificate of completion
M
Taught by
Ms. Fatou Ndiaye
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What You'll Learn

Explain the three pillars of sustainable agriculture and describe the structure of a modern food system, from production to consumption.
Describe the structure and function of healthy soil, identify the drivers of soil degradation, and explain sustainable land management practices.
Compare irrigation methods by water-use efficiency, and explain the principles of climate-resilient farming.
Define agroecology and Integrated Pest Management, and critically evaluate the evidence around organic and genetically modified crops.
Trace a food product's journey through the value chain, explain the causes of food loss and waste, and define the four dimensions of food security.
Explain how agricultural policy, subsidies, and economic instruments shape farming practices and food system outcomes at scale.
Critically analyse real-world case studies — from the Dust Bowl to the Aral Sea to the EU's Farm to Fork Strategy — using the conceptual tools developed throughout the course.
Demonstrate foundational food-systems literacy sufficient for further study, professional application, or informed engagement with agricultural policy and practice.

About This Course

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems is a comprehensive, international-standard foundational course designed to build a rigorous, systems-based understanding of how the world grows, moves, and manages food and how it can do so sustainably. The course is intended for learners with no prior formal background in agriculture, including students, early-career professionals, agricultural extension staff, policy and development practitioners, and anyone seeking a structured, credible introduction to the subject. Rather than treating sustainable agriculture as a single topic, this course is built around a systems foundations approach: each module examines a distinct component of the food system soil, water, biodiversity and pest management, value chains and food security, and policy and economics while consistently returning to how these components interact with and depend on one another. Every module pair conceptual content with a real-world case study, a supporting figure or diagram, and curated video resources, and is reinforced with a 15-question multiple-choice quiz. The course culminates in a comprehensive 15-question Final Assessment drawing on all six modules. Learners who achieve a score of 80% or higher (12 out of 15 correct) on the Final Assessment are eligible to receive a Certificate of Completion, described in Section 6 of this guide.

How it works

  • Enroll free in the Tapi Learn app — no payment, no ads
  • Learn lesson-by-lesson; pass each module quiz (60%) to progress
  • Score 80%+ on the final assessment to earn your certificate

Course Curriculum

6 modules · 30 lessons · ~1h total
What Is Sustainable Agriculture?
2 min
Understanding Food Systems
2 min
The Green Revolution and Its Legacy
2 min
Conventional, Sustainable, and Regenerative Agriculture
2 min
Systems Thinking Applied to Agriculture
2 min

Your Instructor

F

Ms. Fatou Ndiaye

Agroecologist & 2024 African Food Prize Laureate

Federation Niayès Agroécologie / ACLA

Agroecologist and founder of a Senegalese farmer cooperative serving 15,000 members. Winner of the 2024 African Food Prize.

MSc Agroecology, WageningenFounder, Federation Niayès Agroécologie2024 African Food Prize Laureate

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