Tropical Crop Management and Ecology

Overview

Key facts

The aim of the Tropical Crop Management and Ecology program at Czech University of Life Sciences Prague is to create professionals for the next generation needed to address challenges closely tied to the sustainability of tropical and subtropical agricultural systems, biodiversity conservation, nutrition and human health, and climate change through interdisciplinary approaches in plant sciences.

The goal of the program, therefore, includes educating students and developing and disseminating science-based information to promote agroecological production of tropical crops with special orientation on traditional and ecological agricultural systems (e.g. agroforestry) as well as application of appropriate modern production methods (e.g. plant biotechnologies). It is generally argued that increased use of plant resources diversity contributes to higher sustainability, productivity and resilience of smallholder’s farming systems. Accordingly, agrobiodiversity use and conservation is an important component of the program.

Learning outcomes

Specific objectives of the program include seeking answers to plant resources use and management in tropical agroecosystems and adjacent natural ecosystems as well as food, nutritional and health related questions; promoting needed research and development activities related to tropical plant resources for food and agriculture; and providing graduates with the knowledge and skills needed for sound scientific inquiry and professional practice, and a solid understanding and commitment to professional ethics in tropical agriculture research and development.