NC State Agroecology Education Programs

CEFS was instrumental in the development of NC State University’s Agroecology Education programs, including the Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems Major Program, the Agroecology Minor Program, and the Agroecology Education Farm.

What is Agroecology?

Agroecology at its foundation is multidisciplinary and holistic, integrating ecology with agriculture for the development of sustainable agricultural practices and systems. Through systems-level understanding, agroecologists are able to develop sustainable solutions to local and global agricultural and food system challenges.

Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems Major 

The Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems major at NC State University is a cross-departmental program offered through the Departments of Crop and Soil Sciences and Horticultural Science.  It trains future food system leaders with the interdisciplinary knowledge, real-world experiences, and professional networks to develop sustainable solutions for our complex agricultural and food system challenges. This major offers students a variety of courses taught by diverse faculty experts in sustainable agriculture, unique hands-on learning and community engagement experiences, and career networking and professional development opportunities through internship and research experiences.

Learn more about this program on the NC State Agroecology Undergraduate Programs website.

Agroecology Minor 

The Agroecology minor program is a great way to add sustainability within agriculture and food to your major and is complementary to many degrees. Find out more about this 17-credit minor program and curriculum on the NC State Minors website or contact the Agroecology Minor adviser Dr. Michelle Schroeder-Moreno.

Faculty and staff volunteers weed around crops at the Agroecology Education Farm. Photo © Roger Winstead

Agroecology Education Farm

In 2005, the NC State Agroecology Education Farm started with a vision from Drs. Michelle Schroeder-Moreno, David Orr and Mike Linker to create a space near campus for students and community to learn about sustainable agriculture.

Since then, NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Science, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, and CEFS have all provided critical support.

In 2013, the Agroecology Education Farm began producing food for NC State Dining, bringing food and agroecology education into NC State dining halls. In 2015, NC State Dining supported season extension to increase the farm’s production.  In 2018, the farm produced 7,000 pounds of produce for NC State Dining and hosted 700 visitors.

For more information about the Agroecology Education Farm, including regular volunteering opportunities, please visit their website.