The Iowa Stater
May 2001
Return to index
ISU pioneers sustainable ag program
Students in the country's first Ph.D. program in sustainable agriculture
begin their coursework on campus this fall. Iowa State's program includes
M.S. and Ph.D. degrees and a graduate minor. (Sustainable ag refers to an ag
system that supports farmers financially and protects both the environment
and human health.)Fifty faculty members from 10 departments make up the program -- the largest inter-disciplinary group working on sustainable agriculture on any campus in the world, according to Ricardo Salvador, agronomy faculty member and program director.
In courses that run from ag economics to philosophy, from plant pathology to community planning, students will look at technical, social and environmental issues affecting agriculture.
"Our graduates will be trained to analyze and share practices and policies affecting sustainability by integrating knowledge from many fields. They will be prepared to develop innovative, creative and effective responses to sustainability challenges," Salvador said.
The program's Web site is at: http://www.sust.ag.iastate.edu/gpsa.