Discover Best Practice Farming for a Sustainable 2050

Discover Best Practice Farming for a Sustainable 2050

Instructor: Graeme Martin

46,024 already enrolled

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7 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

756 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

9 hours to complete

Learn at your own pace

95%

Most learners liked this course

7 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

756 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

9 hours to complete

Learn at your own pace

95%

Most learners liked this course

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

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Assessments

9 assignments

Taught in English

91%

of learners achieved a positive career outcome

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There are 7 modules in this course

The Discover Best Practice Farming for a Sustainable 2050 Course is based on a clear vision: imagine best practice farming for 2050, start to implement these strategies now, all the while making sure it will still be profitable. At UWA we're doing just that with the Future Farm 2050 Project, set on a mixed-enterprise farm in Western Australia and we want you to learn how it can be done in your part of the world.

Although this course is based on agriculture, it's not only about farming. It is a multi-disciplinary course that addresses a wide range of issues confronting the industry, including rural communities, rural infrastructure and conservation of biodiversity in agriculture. By completing this course you will understand that feeding and clothing the planet requires a multi-disciplinary approach and upon completion you will be able to explain best practices of sustainable farming and apply them in new contexts.

Welcome to "Discover Best Practice Farming for a Sustainable 2050". In this first week you'll be introduced to the UWA Future Farm 2050 Project, an initiative by UWA in agricultural R&D and regional engagement. The project is centred on agriculture but you'll discover that feeding the world needs a mutli-disciplinary approach, and there are a wide range of issues confronting the agricultural industry which must be addressed if we are to cope with population projections for 2050.

What's included

3 videos1 reading1 assignment

3 videosTotal 33 minutes

Professor Graeme Martin - Welcome to the Course and Introduction to Best Practice Farming for a Sustainable 205020 minutes
360 Farm Tour8 minutes
Introduction to Ridgefield Farm Manager - Mr Steven Wainewright4 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

The 'UWA Future Farm 2050' Project - testing multidisciplinary options for future food production systems10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Introduction to Best Practice Farming for a Sustainable 205030 minutes

Welcome to the second week of "Discover Best Practice Farming for a Sustainable 2050". This week you will gain an understanding into the importance of soil and water and its careful management.

What's included

4 videos2 readings2 assignments

4 videosTotal 30 minutes

Professor Graeme Martin - Introduction to Water and Soils1 minute
Asst/Professor Matthias Leopold: Soils8 minutes
Interview with Emeritus Professor Lynette Abbott6 minutes
Dr Matt Hipsey: Water14 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Optional Readings: Soil10 minutes
Optional Readings: Water10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Week 2: Soils30 minutes
Week 2: Water30 minutes

Welcome to Week 3 of "Discover Best Practice Farming for a Sustainable 2050". This week you'll be introduced to Ecological Cropping, and more specifically weed management and plant breeding. Effective weed management strategies, in a changing environment with increasing resistance to herbicides, has become increasingly important for crop management. In addition to these management strategies, successful cropping also depends on high yielding varieties, tolerant to a changing environment.

What's included

6 videos1 reading1 assignment

6 videosTotal 58 minutes

Professor Graeme Martin - Introduction to Ecological Cropping1 minute
Professor Stephen Powles: Cropping and Weed Management20 minutes
Interview with Dr Ken Flower11 minutes
Interview with Wheatbelt Farmer Shauna Stone9 minutes
Professor Wallace Cowling: Plant Breeding14 minutes
360 Wheat Crop Harvest2 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

Optional Readings: Ecological Cropping10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Week 2: Ecological Cropping30 minutes

Welcome to Week 4 of "Discover Best Practice Farming for a Sustainable 2050". This week you'll be introduced to Versatile Livestock Systems. You'll learn about the about the principles of "Clean, Green and Ethical" livestock management. This is the driving livestock management principle of the Future Farm 2050 Project. You'll also understand the risks associated with livestock production in drylands, working towards versatile systems and managing the relationship between animals and the environment.

What's included

2 videos1 reading1 assignment

Welcome to Week 5 of "Discover Best Practice Farming for a Sustainable 2050". This week you'll be introduced to Conservation of Biodiversity in Agriculture. You will learn about biodiversity hotpots, the impacts of clearing land for agriculture and our reliance of healthy ecosystems (ecosystems services) for survival. You will also learn about site and re vegetation planning and the integration of biodiversity into farming systems.

What's included

2 videos1 reading1 assignment

Welcome to Week 6 of "Discover Best Practice Farming for a Sustainable 2050". This week you'll be introduced to the importance of People and Infrastructure for sustainable agriculture. People in regional areas face many different challenges to those residing in urban areas. The changing environment has further increased these challenges. In addition, infrastructure in regional areas is expensive to build and often not "Fit for Purpose"

What's included

4 videos2 readings2 assignments

4 videosTotal 31 minutes

Professor Graeme Martin: Introduction to People and Infrastructure1 minute
Welcome to Country with Noongar Elder Gary Bennell1 minute
Dr Susan Bailey: People15 minutes
Mr Patrick Beale: Rural Infrastructure14 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Optional Reading: People10 minutes
Optional Reading: Infrastructure10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

6. People30 minutes
6. Infrastructure30 minutes

Congratulations! You've reached the end of "Discover Best Practice Farming for a Sustainable 2050"

What's included

1 video1 assignment

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(266 ratings)

Graeme Martin

University of Western Australia

1 Course46,024 learners

Offered by

University of Western Australia

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Reviewed on Sep 20, 2025

Exceptional Course

Reviewed on Jul 26, 2020

Its really interesting knowledgeable course, to cope with the increasing demand for food production to support the growing population. In a different & renewed way.

Reviewed on Oct 3, 2020

The Pedagogy is really simple and easy to follow. The information and knowledge from the course is very insightful and look forward to pursuing further courses

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