Compare the master's Resilient Farming and Food Systems

The master's Resilient Farming and Food Systems focuses on assessing, improving and developing sustainable food systems. The programme covers topics from both the natural and social domain, from resilient farming practices to environmental policy, product certification, consumer behaviour and rural sociology. Students can choose between two specialisations: Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems.

Compare the programme in Wageningen

The specialisation Natural Resource Management of the master’sPlant Sciences (MPS)has many overlapping topics with the specialisation Agroecology of MRF. However, the focus in Plant Sciences is almost exclusively on plant production, while MRF encompasses all types of farming (animal and plant). Similarly the specialisation “Global and Sustainable Production” of the master’sAnimal Sciences (MAS)has many overlapping topics with MRF, but focusses exclusively on animal farming.

The master’s Forest and Nature Conservation (MFN), also integrates natural and social sciences to tackle questions of sustainability. The main difference between the programmes is that MFN focusses on the conservation and management of forests and other natural areas, while the focus of MRF is on agriculture and global food systems.

The master’sInternational Development Studies (MID)covers topics such as (inequalities in) agro-food networks, which are also discussed in the MRF specialisation Sustainable Food Systems. However, the focus of MID is more on the social sciences and society-at-large and directed more towards low-income countries.

The master’s Biobased Sciences (MBS) is also oriented on the transition to a sustainable society. Where the focus in MRF lies on creating sustainable food production systems from a biological and social perspective, MBS focusses on combining biological, engineering and economical aspects of sustainable and circular production.

The specialisations Economics of Sustainability and Governance of Sustainability Transformations of the Master Management, Economics and Consumer studies (MME), cover similar topics as the MRF specialisation Sustainable Food Systems. However, the specialisations of MME are more business oriented than Sustainable Food Systems of MRF. Sustainable Food Systems also has a much broader scope, looking at the system as a whole and economics and governance are components of this.

Compare the programme with other universities

The master’s Environmental Social Sciences (Radboud University Nijmegen) also combines the social- and natural sciences. The focus at Nijmegen, however, is more on climate, food safety and nature from a perspective of cooperation with involved third parties, sustainable development and globalisation.

The master’s Sustainable Development (Utrecht University) places an accent on developing added value in the transition to a sustainable living environment by means of research and in creating innovative solutions to environmental demands. While sustainable food production is a small part of this, it does not play a central role, like in the master's Resilient Farming and Food Systems.