University of Florence

Master in Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture

The MSc in Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture is an innovative graduate program that is fully taught in English. It aims to foster research and professional skills in the fields of sustainable agriculture, animal science, and natural resource management. The program's objectives are to enhance food security and to support the capacity building and empowerment of local communities.

Introduction to the course

Food and water security, climate change, access to agricultural markets, land grabbing, conservation of biological and cultural diversity, and valorisation of local traditions are some of the issues that hinder the development of rural areas in the southern countries. Therefore, effective rural development has to be contextualized and carefully assessed on a case-by-case basis. Moreover, while innovative technologies may support farmers in northern rural areas, sustainable measures have to be prioritized in southern and marginal areas, finding appropriate trade-offs between cost-effective innovations and local traditions.