Agriculture and Food Security
UndergraduateLTU-AGR10012025
Course information for 2025 intake
Enrol today with instant approval and no entry requirements
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 23 Feb 2025
- Entry requirements
- No ATAR needed, No prior study
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Start dates
- 3 Mar 2025
- Price from
- $578
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Agriculture and Food Security
About this subject
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Describe the place of agriculture in Australia's past, present and future.
- Describe the drivers regulating the diversity of current and future agricultural systems.
- Demonstrate an understanding of how global trade and regulatory issues influence farming practices.
- Describe the importance of the interplay between natural capital and farming systems.
- Define the constraints that limit food production locally, nationally and globally.
- Demonstrate critical thinking in an understanding of agriculture.
- Work collaboratively with peers to present a solution to an agricultural problem.
- Introduction to Agriculture
- Digital technology
- Climate change impacts
- UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Natural capital and farming systems
- Production Constraints
- Global trade and regulation
This subject will investigate the past, present and future of agriculture, and its impact on Australia and the world. At the end of this subject, you will have a deeper understanding of the importance and context of agriculture from a range of different perspectives.
You will examine the pre-and post-colonial agriculture in Australia and around the world. In understanding the past, you will cover the influence of agriculture on Australian history, landscapes and regional and rural development. What were the historical constraints, what are the current constraints, and what will they be in the future?
To address the present, you will investigate the role of agriculture in addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the role of agriculture in global food production and trade, and in the modern Australian economy.
The future of agriculture will involve the increased use of precision – in data collection and analysis, forecasting, sensors and robotics. The increase in protected cropping will mean more diseases, but more control over inputs – how will this be achieved in a sustainable way to feed the world? What will the impact of this be on future workforce and society?
- Plate to Paddock -Individual summary (500 words) (10%)
- Plate to Paddock - group presentation (5 minutes per individual, 500 words equivalance) (20%)
- Topic Assignments (3 x 500 words) (30%)
- Case study analysis (1000 words) (30%)
- Weekly Quizzes (1% each, 50 words each) (10%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
The third university established in Victoria, La Trobe University has a diverse community of more than 38,000 students and staff. Its commitment to excellence in teaching and research prepares students to make a bold and positive impact in today's global community. La Trobe provides Open Universities Australia with its core tenets, entrepreneurship and sustainability.
Learn more about La Trobe University.
Explore La Trobe courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 17
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 18
Entry requirements
No entry requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Why study a single subject?
Bite sized study
Try studying a particular area to see if online study suits you, or upskill in just a few months with a single subject that you’re interested in.
Pursue a dream
With thousands of single subjects to choose from, you can find topics that get you on the path to your higher education goals fast.
Gain Uni credit
Most single subjects are part of a full degree. That means if you’re keen to keep learning, you can gain credit for the subjects you’ve successfully completed.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Health Sciences
UndergraduateLAT-AHS-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-ART-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-HSC-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-BUS-DEG
Bachelor of Information Technology
UndergraduateLAT-TEC-DEG
Bachelor of Psychological Science
UndergraduateLAT-PYS-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-CYS-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-HSC-DIP
Single subject FAQs
What’s a single subject?
Single subjects are the individual components that make up a degree. With Open Universities Australia, you’re able to study many of them as stand-alone subjects, including postgraduate single subjects, without having to commit to a degree.
Each of your subjects will be held over the course of a study term, and they’ll usually require 10 to 12 hours of study each week. Subjects are identified by a title and a code, for example, Developmental Psychology, PSY20007.
How can I use single subjects to get into a full degree?
First, find the degree that you would like to study on our website.
If that degree allows entry via undergraduate subjects, there will be information about this under the Entry Requirements section. You will find a list of 2-4 open enrolment subjects you need to successfully complete to qualify for admission into that qualification.
Once you pass those subjects, you will satisfy the academic requirements for the degree, and you can apply for entry.
Our student advisors are here to help you take that next step, so don’t hesitate to reach out when you’re ready! We’ve also made it easier to figure out the right way to get started on our pathways page.
Can anyone help me choose a subject?
Our student advisors are more than happy to help you plan your online study. Get in touch with an advisor by:
How do I pay for my subjects?
You can pay up front with your credit card, or you may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government depending on your citizenship status and where you’ll live during your studies.
For more information about how to pay for your studies visit our fees page or contact a student advisor.
How do I enrol?
When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Enrol now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we’ll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.
When is the cut-off date for enrolling?
Close of enrolment times vary between universities and subjects. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting key dates.