Best Sustainable Farming Online Courses

Have you ever wondered how farmers produce food sustainably? As the world faces a climate crisis, farming continues to be one of the few industries under the spotlight. Today we’ve many farming online courses that can help you learn the practices that farmers employ to achieve a sustainable food supply.  

To learn new skills, advance your career and pursue your interest, these best sustainable farming online courses are worth trying. In addition to seeing the list, check out what suggestions each course has for you.

Let’s dive in!

1. Explore How Farmers Produce Food Sustainably  (FutureLearn)

About the course:

This course explores the processes that farmers use to produce food sustainably. With this course, you’ll have a better understanding of how green farming is done, where the food comes from, how to produce it,

Also, it outlines the social, environmental, and sustainability challenges that EU farmers face. Alongside that, it explains eco-friendly practices on arable and horticulture farming. 

It further examines the innovative technologies that a farmer can use to boost sustainability in all farming-related habits. Just get started straight away as it gives an opportunity to learn at your own pace.

Why this course is good:

• You’ll develop a balanced and informed understanding of practices and complexities of sustainable farming and good production.
• Reflects on certain challenges that farmers face as they grind to secure a sustainable food supply 
• It teaches how new, innovative technologies can help provide food production for the ever-growing population without causing harm to the environment.
• It outlines the socially acceptable and organic, environmentally sustainable production methods. 

Who is it for?

• Professional farmers who want to advance their career
• Beginners willing to learn new skills
• Everyone who wants a career in the agriculture industry
• Everyone who’s working in the food industry but doesn’t have any background in agriculture

Offered by:

• University of Reading

Duration: 3 weeks (3 hours of study every week)

Difficulty level

2. Sustainable Agricultural Land Farming Management (Coursera)

About the Course:

It’s a popular online course that focuses on agricultural and water quality issues. Through this, you’ll learn about the science and policy behind sustainable food management practices and nutrient management strategies. 

Students gain knowledge on how to make their agricultural lands sustainable. For example, how to use organic matter like manure and compost instead of toxic chemicals. 

The course helps you to evaluate soils and nutrient mass balance. And with the best professors with vast experience, students learn the current landscape clearly with avoidance of speculation and ideologies.

Why this course is good:

• Learners will know more about best soil management and practices
• Enjoys high ranking because of highly skilled instructors
• It gives you an opportunity to solve water quality issues, thus boosting the value of agriculture
• The course lays out the history very clearly. This avoids ideologies and speculation

Who is it for?

• Anyone interested in understanding soil management
• Professionals who want to listen to new perspectives

Offered by: 

• University of Florida

Duration: 7 weeks

Beginner level

3. Discover Best Practice Farming for a Sustainable 2050 (Coursera)

About the Course:

Unlike others, this course is unique as it’s based on a very clear vision – “best strategies practice farming for 2020”. This module outlines them and suggests that if we start to implement them today, the future end will be profitable. 

The course is doing more than good by setting up units such as the importance of water and soil and sustainable management. It’s very helpful as it gives ideas on how to scale food production.

Enroll in this friendly class for both beginners and professionals. With important learning materials and easy-to-follow lectures, you can do it at your own comfort. 

Why this course is good:

• It investigates the right practices to be used in farming
• The course addresses plenty of issues confronting the farming industry
• You’ll be enlightened on water, and to ensure proper ecological cropping, 

Who is it for?

• Anyone who works in Agribusiness departments
• Researchers who would want to study soil management at the international level

Offered by:

• University of Western Australia

Duration:

Beginner level

4. Farming 101 Basics (How to Become a Sustainable Farmer) (Udemy)

About the course:

If you’re planning to become a sustainable farmer, this online course is for you. It is indeed a beginner’s guide with basic information that you need to be aware of as a starter in your farming business. 

This course prioritizes field preparation and grain farming, as well as machinery. The instructor will specifically talk about bonus farming tips and tricks to cut the cost of farming yet high impacts. 

In general, you’ll expand your knowledge from agriculture to organic farming. Strategic farming, which is another part of sustainable farming, is also in this content.

Why this course is good:

• It helps you understand the basics of farming
• You’ll know how to choose the best machinery, seeds, and chemicals to ensure green farming
• The course highlights the best farming practices 

Who is it for?

• Anyone passionate about farming
• Individuals looking to become good farmers

Offered by:

• Udemy

Duration: 5 lectures

Beginner level

5. Bio-Organic Farming & Gardening (Udemy)

About the course:

This course is all about growing your own food. It covers plants, pests, compost, preparation, and harvests, among others. It’s not just farming but bio-organic farming. 

It gives tips on how to farm, utilizing ancient farming methods and step-by-step organic farming. The course recommends you grow your own BioDynamic Organics in the most earth-loving ways possible.

You’ll learn everything from easy natural farming to taking control of your own food supply and environment. That way, you can rise to center stage as an organic farmer.

Why this course is good:

• The course educates peoples on how to grow their own food in the most earth-friendly ways possible
• It comes with a simple, step-by-step organic farming guide
• When complimented, you create a good farming foundation – e.g., high-quality food
• Through this course, farmers will learn how to prepare compost and seeds for their garden 

Who is it for?

• All organic farmers
• The vast majority who wishes to simple methods of farming and planting
• Everyone who can farm!

Offered by: 

• Udemy

Duration: Approx. 7 hours 

Difficulty level

6. The Future of Farming (FutureLearn)

This course talks more about organic farming for crops. The tutor will enlighten you on how to improve farm quality and sustainability. If you’re stuck on reducing your environmental footprint, this course is an ideal choice. 

While global warming is real, this course explores the practical applications to tackle climate change challenges. 

Other vital things to find include; increased and stable production, adaptation to climate change, mitigation of carbon emissions.

Most importantly, the course answers the question, “how does farming influence greenhouse gases and global warming?” This topic is addressed here.

Why this course is good:

• You’ll understand the interaction between farming and climate change
• Week 1 module evaluates the relationship between greenhouse gases and climate change
• It helps you gain knowledge on carbon emission and potential measures for reducing it, within the farming industry
• You’ll learn about sustainable crop management practices 

Who is it for? 

• Anyone who’s seeking complexities of food production systems
• Those who want to learn about environmental and farming challenges

Offered by:

• University of Reading

Duration: 3 weeks

Hard level

7. Technologies for Sustainable Farming Systems (futurelearn.com)

About the course:

The course explores how innovative technologies can help achieve and maintain sustainable intensification of farming systems without harming the environment. 

In this course, learners will get first-hand information that pinpoints the benefits of adopting innovative technologies. And you’ll be able to figure out the challenges related to it. 

The agri-tech applications enhance high-quality production while meeting social and environmental responsibilities.

Why this course is good:

• Has in-depth information on both social and environmental sustainability
• Explore precision techniques that help reduce environmental hazards concerning farm practices
• By the end, you’ll easily identify the necessary skills to implement eco-friendly farm techniques
• It boosts your knowledge on sustainable intensification and its impact on farming industry

Who is it for?

• Farmers and growers
• Farm advisors, environmental sector workers, agree-tech developers, agricultural extension workers, agronomists
• Primary food producers

Offered by: 

• University of Reading

Duration: 3 weeks

Difficulty level

8. Growing Great Compost (Udemy)

About the course

The course reconnects to the best way of making high quality compost on your farm. You can use biodegradable products that you use on a daily basis to create compost piles that are rich in nitrogen.

You’ll learn why using fertilizers and chemicals on your farm is not sustainable. Thankfully, the course tells why making fertilizer with your garden fertilizer is important to the soil. 

There are videos to watch – including collection ingredients that make a quality compost heap. Upon completion, you’ll receive a certificate of completion.

Why this course is good:

• It teaches how to prepare a sustainable compost heap for your farm
• You’ll understand how different materials affect the compost making and designing process 
• Investigates the minerals you need to add so as to make your soil rich 
• This is where you learn how to make your own fertilizer for your garden
• It has videos that demonstrate how to go about it

Who is it for?

• Farmers and gardeners
• Anyone who want to build phenomenal soils

Offered by:

• Udemy

Duration: 3 hours

Difficulty level

Frequently Asked questions

What are some examples of sustainable farming practices?

Is your farming system sustainable? We have specific sustainable farming practices that you can adopt. And as we know, practitioners integrate three vital objectives:

• A healthy environment
• Social and economic equity
• Economic profitability

It’s a must-do thing for farmers to implement sustainable farming practices and holistic systems. Of course, they come with potential benefits: These includes:

• Controlled traffic farming
• Embracing diversity and rotating crops
• Integrated pest management
• Planting of cover crops
• Eliminating and reducing tillage
• Embrace new, innovative farm technologies

Conclusion

With sustainable farming online courses, you’ll be way better than before. Some of these courses are free while others are paid, but they’re worth your consideration.

Altogether, these courses outline the most sustainable way to farm. All that you need is to enroll online and learn at your own pace.