Agriculture and Environment: Ecosystem Services

The state of the environment and sustainable use of natural resources are the foundations for human wellbeing. Sustainability of agricultural production will be claiming an ever increasing significance in a world of rapidly growing population, the dwindling resource base, and imperatives of conserving healthy environment and viable ecosystems. The role of natural processes and their utilisation for sustained production are and will be receiving increasing attention from practitioners, policy makers and public. It is on its way to become a cornerstone in the ecological intensification of production of food, fiber, and energy from land. These ecological processes, dependent in turn on the diversity of life, form a basis for ecosystem services.

Ecosystem services are the goods and services derived from natural and managed ecosystems upon which human welfare depends. Ecosystem services include highly diverse phenomena, from the production of food to recreational benefits. And the range of performance varies from microbes to landscapes. The challenges are therefore to recognise and valuate the flow of services so that agricultural land use can be better accommodated to the functioning of ecosystems. The crucial question is: Are we ready to address these challenges?

By working with cases of utilising ecosystem services in biomass production, by looking at a diversity of aspects from biological, agronomic and economic sciences, through meeting with practitioners and learning about their expectations and experiences, and by engaging with policy makers we can work towards improved understanding and practice of land use. The challenge is huge but there are no alternatives!

This course is designed to provide a multicultural and multidisciplinary group of Finnish and international students with tools for understanding and valuating ecosystem services pertaining to agricultural production. The course will demonstrate students how natural processes in ecosystems used for agriculture support the continuous provisioning of food and other biomass, contribute to the purification of waters and soil, and create recreational and cultural experiences in farmland. On a practical level, the course will equip students with relevant skills in the field and in the lab. In addition, the course provides students with information on the environmental policies as well as agriculture-related research in Finland. The course will consist of lectures, discussions, fieldwork, exercises, study excursions, reading as well as individual and small group assignments. Learning will be facilitated by a problem based approach.

Why to attend this course?

-       To learn to recognise a range of ecosystem services related to agricultural production

-       To understand the currently available agronomic and technological advances which enhance the ecosystem services in agro-ecosystems

-       To be able to apply ecological principles and agronomic knowledge to practical on-farm solutions; and the last but not the least,

-       To acquire working skills in an intercultural, multilingual and interdisciplinary group

The course will be led by Dr Mika Kähkönen and Dr Iryna Herzon, both University Lecturers at the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. Several guest lecturers – top experts in their specific fields – will be involved in the teaching.

Course prerequisites are basic studies in Agricultural, Environmental, or Soil Sciences, or other appropriate field. The course is intended for Master's and advanced level students, as well as professionals in agriculture or other related fields.

Before the course starts, students are expected to complete a pre-course assignment.

Please direct any questions concerning the content of this course to the course coordinator, Ms Susanna Saarinen, susanna.saarinen(at)helsinki.fi. Any question concerning the general arrangements (accommodation, scholarship, etc.) should be addressed to the Summer School's office at summer-school@helsinki.fi