Canada: Toronto Metropolitan University (the recently renamed Ryerson University) is offering two online courses this fall in the Urban Agriculture Certificate.
Urban agriculture enhances and contributes to urban food security, health, community building, sustainable livelihoods and environmental management.
By Rhonda Teitel-Payne
Co-coordinator
Toronto Urban Growers
**NEW In this online course, CVFN420 – Green/Natural Infrastructure, you’ll explore practices such as street tree planting, green roofs, rainwater harvesting, bioswales, and bioretention plantings. Instructor Sheila Boudreau will reference how greening and urban agriculture can intersect to improve the urban environment. Topics include ecosystem services (including social and economic); triple-bottom-line cost benefit-analysis and natural assets infrastructure valuation; the evolution of urban stormwater management leading to nature-based solutions; and Indigenous engagement and conservation efforts.
In the foundation course CVFN410 – Understanding Urban Agriculture, instructors Joe Nasr and Rhonda Teitel-Payne will highlight the practice of urban agriculture in its many forms around the world and show how it enhances and contributes to urban food security, health, community building, sustainable livelihoods and environmental management. This course expands understanding of the potential impacts, constraints, and opportunities of urban agriculture. You’ll also learn how to analyze relevant stakeholders, historical contexts and local, regional and international trends.
CVFN420 and CVFN 410 are part of the four-course Urban Agriculture Certificate Program.
For more information on how to register for the certificate program and its courses contact Reg Noble (Academic Coordinator) at food@ryerson.ca. The fall session starts September 13, 2022.
Certificate Program in Urban Agriculture
Are you seeking a deeper understanding of urban agriculture?
Join Instructors James Kuhns and Rhonda Teitel-Payne in exploring dimensions of food production across a diversity of urban environments around the world in CVFN 411.
In CVFN411 Dimensions of Urban Agriculture, you’ll explore the dimensions (functions, roles, benefits, potential risks) of urban agriculture and how these intersect with those provided by other land uses, sectoral activities and actors. We’ll explore health and food security and the socio-cultural, economic and environmental aspects of growing food in cities. Readings, videos and online discussion will link to current issues in both the Global North and South, including analyses of power and privilege, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and the COVID pandemic.
This fully online course starts on May 2, 2022 and registration is open until May 10, 2022.
CVFN411 is part of the four-course Urban Agriculture Certificate Program.
For more information on how to register for the certificate program and its courses contact Reg Noble (Academic Coordinator) at food@ryerson.ca.
