Regenerative FF&E

Module 1:  Soil Health  20 credits 

This module explores how regenerative practices bring soils more alive and how improved soil health can help food and farm enterprises. It demonstrates how improving the biodiversity of plants, fungi, fauna, and micororganisms can produce healthier soil structures, which in turn benefit cycles of water, nutrients and carbon, that impact on reducing erosion and improving carbon sequestration. The module uses scientific methods to evaluate improvements to soil health and any impacts arising from that.

Module aims

To find out how to regenerate soil food webs consisting of flora, fauna (macro and meso), fungi, and microrganisms

To demonstrate the importance of soil health in crop growth,  animal welfare and better diets. 

To demonstrate how increasing the biodiversity of life in soils helps build important soil structures.

To recognise the role soil ecology plays in water, carbon and nutrient cycles that can help the wider environment

To  investigate scientifically how the key regenerative principles can improve soil health in practice.

Module 2: Food Systems to mitigate Climate Change 30 credits 

This module explores current state of soils in the  world, Europe and UK and the possible consequences for civilisations, food production and land use.  It investigates various examples of regenerative practices from around the world and how they may be applied locally. It examines how regenerative practices could be rewarded for their contibution to mitigating climate change. A range of practical sessions, in various contexts will enhance knowledge of implementation of regenerative land use practices.

Module aims: 

To assess the state of  soil health in the UK and throughout the world. 

To demonstrate limitations of  'free  markets'  and find other policies that can support soil improvement.

To seek opportunities, particularly relating with climate change policies,  to build soil assets.

To investigate ways that goods can flow from improved soil assets.

To begin ways to put policies into practices. including field trips to a variety of places

Module 3: New Food Economy 20 credits 

This module looks at growing local food economies based on regenerative farm and food practices. This will entail more biodiverse production, thus more diverse forms of consumption, particularly seasonal and locally adapted crops and animals. Stimulating innovation and regenerating food production, supply chains and business fields is a vital part of strengthening community and ecosystem resilience.

Module aims:

To look for ways and ideas for regenerating food and farming, some traditional but also innovative.

To examine practices from all over the world about various ways to regenerate farm and food that have been successful.

To link more directly with consumers to build local 'food' economies, that are more diverse and resilient.

To participate in circular economies, that minimise waste and deliver more to the local community.

To take advantage of inititaives that encourage 'zero carbon' in the countryside.

Module 4: Food, Farming, and Enterprise 20 credits

This module examines the  design and development of a food/farm-based enterprise,  based on raising the profile of local foods and adding value to regenerative production.  Based on improving natural capital of land-based assets, this module will look for opportunities to invest and diversify. It will examine different models of entrerpises, role of  market research, and new ways of networking. Convey how in the UK the adoption of regenerative farming is a farmer led activity and why.

This module runs concurrent with module 3. 

Module aims:

To identify possible opportunities for regenerative enterprises, and barriers to investment. 

To develop an understanding of the structure and content of ‘new’ enterprises,  and their application to local and food production systems further afield.

To use a whole systems approach to build linkages among social (community), ecological, and commercial domains.

To examine various models of enterprises, including co-operatives, conduct market research and build new networks. 

Module 5: Plan to implement regenerative practices 30 credits

This module analyses and assesses existing  food and farm practices, to propose more regenerative practices.  This shows how an understanding of the physical, chemical and biological processs in soils, can promote better growing systems, species interactions,  and more biodiverse habits.  This will help assess  a variety of growing systems and land use, both traditoinal and regenerative,  to propose improvements and plan changes to existing land. 

Module aims:

To identify where improvements can be made in existing farm systems, 

To  explaining how and why regenerative systems are better both for soils and the climate.  

To plan regenerative practices on land, based on exisiting relation to sun, soils, water and air. 

To redesign plot of land to encourage more regenerative growth,  explaining application of princples involved.

!!!Assessment?

Module 6: Dissertation or Final Project – 60 credits

This module provides students with the opportunity to develop and demonstrate their capacity for independent study in the application of research skills to a topic appropriate to the degree.

Module aims:

To provide an opportunity for the student to pursue in depth a topic of their own interest

To extend the student’s powers of scientific evaluation and  critical  thought

To develop the skills and confidence necessary to carry out original research.