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Improving Food Production with Agricultural Technology and Plant Biotechnology

Emma G, Thomas Engel, Cristobal Uauy, Luis Vázquez, Pallavi Singh, Daire Carroll, Alice Thomas, Kellie Smith, Natasha Falconer, and Cathal Meehan

Week One: Plant biotechnology Week Two: Agricultural technology Week Three: Food science Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is designed for 16-19 year olds studying biology related STEM subjects at A level or undergraduate level. It will also appeal to adults interested in the technology behind food production.

Topics Covered

Solutions to food production challenges (pathology, pests, environmental stress, climate change) e.g. genetics
Alternatives to plant biotechnology e.g. biological control
Challenges in the field e.g. soil structure, climate, yield, disease
A history of agricultural technology and today’s new technologies e.g. cutting-edge precision agriculture
Solutions for altering plant-based foods to create supermarket food products
Examples of post-harvest food processing, e.g. creating pectins and sweeteners out of fruit by-products

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Reviews summary

Foundations in sustainable food production

According to students, this course provides a comprehensive and engaging introduction to the crucial fields of agricultural technology and plant biotechnology. Many commend its ability to make complex scientific concepts accessible, making it ideal for beginners, 16-19 year olds, and those new to the field. Learners found the content highly relevant to current global food challenges, including precision agriculture, genetics, and climate change solutions. While largely praised for its clear structure and engaging lectures, some with advanced science backgrounds found it to be a superficial overview lacking practical depth for professionals seeking hands-on applications.

The course is well-organized with engaging presentation methods.

"The course structure was easy to follow, and the quizzes helped reinforce learning."

"Highly engaging and well-structured. It provided a clear picture of the challenges and technological solutions."

"The quality of production was also very high. This course exceeded my expectations!"

Makes complex scientific topics easy to understand for a broad audience.

"The instructors were clear and concise, making complex topics understandable. Highly recommend for anyone interested..."

"Excellent and well-structured. The content is presented clearly, making complex scientific concepts accessible to a non-expert."

"I think it lives up to its promise for 16-19 year olds and those new to the field."

Offers a wide-ranging and relevant introduction to key areas in food production.

"This course was a fantastic introduction to agricultural technology and plant biotechnology. The content was highly relevant to current global food challenges..."

"Excellent course for understanding the foundational principles of modern agriculture. The focus on solutions for food production challenges was particularly impactful."

"I appreciated the broad scope, covering genetics, climate challenges, and even food processing. It connects many dots."

Some observations on dated examples or limited forum engagement.

"My only suggestion would be to update some of the case studies, as a few felt a little dated, though still relevant to the concepts being taught."

"I also felt that some of the discussions in the forums were not very active, which made it harder to clarify doubts."

"I felt some parts could have benefited from more recent research examples, especially given the rapid pace of innovation in this field."

May not satisfy learners with extensive prior scientific knowledge.

"Found this course quite superficial. It skims over many interesting topics without going into enough detail."

"For someone with a science background, it felt like a high school level review rather than an undergraduate level."

"Disappointed with the lack of practical depth. I enrolled hoping for more hands-on examples or practical applications for current professionals."

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Learners who complete Improving Food Production with Agricultural Technology and Plant Biotechnology will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected 50 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Improving Food Production with Agricultural Technology and Plant Biotechnology.

Fundamentals of Soil Science

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Classic textbook in soil science, providing a comprehensive overview of the subject, from soil formation and classification to soil chemistry and fertility.

Fundamentals of Soil Science

Hardcover

$$$

Introduction to Food Engineering

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Widely recognized textbook for undergraduate and graduate students in food engineering and food science. It covers fundamental engineering principles applied to food processing operations, such as mass and energy balances, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer. It is essential for gaining a broad understanding of the quantitative aspects of food processing. The latest edition includes updated data and new content on topics like cleaning and sanitation, emerging electrotechnologies, and sustainability.

Improving Food Production with Agricultural Technology and Plant Biotechnology

Topics Covered

Topics Covered

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Reviews summary

Foundations in sustainable food production

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Reading list

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