August 17, 2010, Toronto - Starting in Fall 2010, Ryerson University’s G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education and the RUAF Foundation will be offering a course series through online learning in urban agriculture as part the Certificate in Food Security. Students who complete the course series will receive official documentary acknowledgement from the university. The four courses that make up the series are:

Understanding Urban Agriculture (CVFN410) offered in Fall 2010
Urban Agriculture Policy-Making (CVFN413) offered in Fall 2010
Urban Agriculture Types (CVFN412) offered in Winter 2011
Dimensions of Urban Agriculture (CVFN411) offered in Spring/Summer 2011

The series will provide students with a comprehensive picture of current practices in urban agriculture and the environmental, socio-economic and political challenges that must be addressed to support them. Students will not only gain in-depth knowledge of the technical aspects of urban agriculture but also of the policy dimensions and governance issues that must be taken into account for development of effective urban agriculture systems. The thematic focus of the course series is to demonstrate the importance and value of urban agriculture as an integral part of planning and development for sustainable, food-secure and healthy urban environments.

The urban agriculture courses are also electives for the Certificate in Food Security and can be used by students as part of their course requirement for completing the certificate.
The courses have been developed in a unique international ongoing partnership between The Chang School and the International Network of Resource Centres on Urban Agriculture and Food Security (RUAF) in the Netherlands, a global leader in urban agriculture research and development. The instructors for the course series are based in Canada, Lebanon, and the Netherlands and bring a wide range of local and international knowledge and experience to the courses.

For more information about the course series in urban agriculture, please contact the academic coordinator for the Food Security Program, Reg Noble, at food@ryerson.ca, or visit www.ryerson.ca/ce/ua