Course overview

Water shortage and water quality issues are increasingly affecting agricultural production worldwide, and problems will increase with climate change and increasing populations. This course takes a global perspective, and aims to equip participants with the ability to fully understand the role of water in agricultural production, and to critically assess existing and future pressures and solutions. After describing the basics of crop water relationships, the course will address the pressures caused by water shortages and water quality issues, and the interactions between them.

After an assessment of trends, we will look at how existing and future technologies might be used to sustain production, and at how the governance of irrigation systems could play a part.

This course is an optional course in the MSc in Food Security in a Changing Environment, and an optional course in the MSc Sustainable and Efficient Food Production.

It is delivered by Bangor University entirely online through distance learning.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the role of water in crop growth and yield, and of the dynamic relationships between soils, water and plants.
  • Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the effects of water and salinity stress on plants and on agricultural production.
  • Critically evaluate the ways in which water-related stresses on agriculture can be alleviated.
  • Critically evaluate the suitability of different methods of irrigation for a particular environment.
  • Critically evaluate the effects of policy on the sustainability of agriculture in dry areas.
Additional Course Information

Topics covered will include:

  • Irrigation and drainage
  • Rainwater harvesting
  • Water and livestock
  • Salinity
  • Agricultural systems

    Key facts

    Course Dates
    Sept to Dec 2019
    Type/Duration
    12 weeks
    Entry Requirements
    Graduate level or relevant experience
    Credits
    20
    Cost
    £933.00
    Fee info
    Overseas fees £1633
    IFST Membership
    Your course enrolment also entitles you to one year of free membership to the IFST (Institute of Food, Science and Technology).
    CQFW Level
    7
    Course Provider
    Bangor University
    Provider Reference Number
    DDL4016
    Course Arrangements
    Full joining instructions will be confirmed by the course provider.
    Course Location
    Bangor University, Online
    Cohort
    AFTP Cohort
    Course Logistics
    Our distance learning courses are designed to be flexible and most of our participants work full time at the same time as studying for 10 to 15 hours per week, for each 20 credit course. Blocks of courses are delivered with start dates in January, May and September, with most courses offered once each year.
    CPD Points
    30
    My AFTP training course has given me greater confidence day-to-day and more insight into the impact of new techniques and technologies.
    Andy Russell - Fresh Produce Technologist, Bakkavor

    Our AgriFood Courses

    Business and Transferable Skills
    Crops & Fresh Produce
    Environment & Sustainability
    Food & Nutrition
    Livestock & Forages

    News/Events

    Online Drone Course Aims To Explain New Regulations
    Talk With The Experts: Capturing A Growing Market Event Interviews
    Capturing a Growing Market - Developing exciting new products for consumers choosing a plant based diet
    Major retailer supports new graduate to study MSc through the Agrifood Training Partnership
    AFTP wins branding recognition at Transform Awards Europe 2019

    The AFTP

    AgriFood Training Partnership
    The University of Reading
    PO Box 226, Whiteknights
    Reading RG6 6AP

    Our partners