Ecological Foundations of Agroecology

Overview | Curriculum | Instructors

ALE 6120

Ecology explores the complex relationships that living beings have with each other and with their surroundings. Agroecology centers these relationships in the design and maintenance of just and resilient farming and food systems.

Program Snapshot

Next Start Date	How Often	Learning Format	Online Learning Type
January 13, 2025	Every Spring	Online	Synchronous
Required Group Meetings	Duration	Time Commitment	Credential
Tuesdays 1-3pm	15 Weeks	6-8 hours/week	��̽̽ Credit or Digital Badge

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Overview

Course Overview

FROM GENETICS TO AGROECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

Ecological relationships and processes form the foundation of agroecosystems, or the landscapes in which food is produced. This course highlights how food production is inherently tied to ecosystem health and functioning. We do this by moving from the micro to the macro - learning about genetics and evolutionary processes and building on that foundational knowledge to understand complex ecological processes and relationships at farm and landscape scales. Throughout the course, we conceptualize humans -and therefore social factors- as inherently part of ecosystems and ecological processes.

COURSE DAYS & TIMES: Spring 2025 Semester: January 13 – May 9. Required online meetings every Tuesday from 1-3pm Eastern.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

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Identify the foundational elements of ecologically resilient agroecosystems
Integrate multiple forms of ecological knowledge to form a holistic understanding of agroecosystem functioning
Articulate how and why social forces are inherently part of ecological processes
Recognize the social and biophysical factors and processes that influence agroecosystem functioning
Apply core concepts of ecology to agroecological management strategies
Communicate the ecological justification for ‘land sharing’ approaches to conservation and agroecology

Curriculum

Module 1 - Ecology & Evolution

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In this module, we explore evolutionary ecology and the ways that evolution shapes agroecosystems. We begin with the micro, exploring genetic diversity, and move on to consider population biology, species interactions, landscape ecology, and ecological complexity.

Module 2 - Soil Health & Agroecology

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Building on content from module 1, we explore soil health and the ways that above- and below-ground species interactions are interconnected. We begin to apply core ecological concepts and relationships to agroecological soil management practices.

Module 3 - Understanding the Ecology in Agroecological Management

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In the final module, we apply learning from modules 1 and 2 to agroecological practices and management strategies, such as agroforestry, rotational grazing, and diversified farming systems. We interrogate the ecological and management implications of labeling certain species as weeds and pests. The course culminates with students applying their learning to visualize ecological processes and relationships within an agroecosystem of their own design.

Instructors

Katie Horner

Postdoctoral Associate, Institute for Agroecology

catherine.horner@uvm.edu

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