Troy Gardens, on Madison's north side, provides an ideal setting
for university education, research, and outreach in sustainable agriculture.
Agriculture, Business, and Industry
Agriculture, business, and industry consume enormous amounts of natural resources to satisfy humanity's
nutritional and material needs. Sustainable approaches shift dependence from nonrenewable to renewable resources, increase
efficiency, reduce waste and pollution, and favor the production of safe,
healthful, high-quality products.
UW-Madison programs, units, projects, and groups that significantly
address sustainability in agriculture, business, and/or industry are listed
below.
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Academic Programs
- Agricultural and Applied
Economics - Applies economic analysis to such areas as the
structure of agriculture, agricultural business, rural and community
development, and natural resources. Considers environmental and natural resource economics, economic
development of low-income countries, agricultural economics, and state
and local public finance and development. B.S., M.A., M.S., Ph.D.
- Agroecology
- Studies agriculture as a human endeavor embedded
in society and environment. Trains researchers
and facilitators for a multifunctional, equitable, and
resource-efficient agriculture. M.S.
- Agronomy
- Seeks to improve efficiency, quality, safety, and environmental
sustainability of crop production to meet meet rapidly changing current needs and those
of future generations. B.S., M.S., Ph.D.
- Biological Systems Engineering
- Prepares students to meet needs of agriculture and the construction industry in
areas including drainage and irrigation facilities, natural resources
and environment, food processing and preservation, soil and water
engineering, and waste management. B.S., M.S., Ph.D.
- Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics
- Interdepartmental graduate degree program that trains students to breed
agricultural crops for superior quality, disease resistance, and reduced
pesticide use. M.S., Ph.D.
- Plant Pathology
- Considers plants and their pathogens, the process of disease, and how plant
health and disease are influenced by factors such as weather,
nonpathogenic microorganisms, and plant nutrition. B.S., M.S.,
Ph.D.
Centers, Institutes, etc.
Research and Outreach Programs
- CALS International Programs
- Oversees, promotes, and coordinates research and outreach activities
related to international agriculture and natural resource management,
including many with heavy emphasis on creating sustainable farming
systems in developing countries.
- Engineering Professional Development
- Offers an extensive array of continuing education courses in engineering, design, operations,
production, maintenance, management, and planning.
- Farm and Home Environmental Management Program
- Enables urban and rural landowners, managers and residents to assess environmental and health risks and take voluntary
actions to prevent pollution.
- Integrated Pest and Crop Management
- Web portal providing information for Wisconsin's agricultural
community from a variety of university plant sciences outreach programs.
- Nonpoint Pollution and Demonstration Project -
Conducts research and outreach on effects of agricultural management practices on potential pollutant losses to the environment.
- Program on Agricultural
Technology Studies - Explores the implications of new agricultural technologies and of emerging
social, economic, and public policy trends for Wisconsin farm business,
farm families, rural communities, and the environment.
- Sustainable Agriculture and
Natural Resource Management - Collaborative Research Support Program
Southeast Asia - Seeks to improve natural resource management in upland agriculture in Southeast
Asian developing economies.
- Sustainable
Farming and Grazing - Web portal maintained by the Center for
Dairy Profitability.
- WasteNOT-Organics -
Promotes use of organic by-products from agriculture, industries,
and municipalities as beneficial soil amendments.
- Wisconsin Foodshed
Research Project - Provides tools and resources for
activists and eaters to change the way society grows, processes,
markets, and eats food.
- Wisconsin Integrated
Cropping Systems Trial Project - Explores whether increasing farming system diversity makes it possible to reduce
the potential negative environmental impact of farming, lower input
levels, and maintain or increase productivity and profitability.
Interest Groups
- Business Action for Sustainable
Enterprise - Non-profit student-run organization that aims to
increase awareness and promote the benefits of sustainable business
practices.
- Engineers Without Borders, UW-Madison Chapter - Student
organization that helps disadvantaged communities improve their quality of life through implementation of
environmentally and economically sustainable engineering projects,
while developing internationally responsible engineering students.
- F. H. King Students of Sustainable Agriculture
- Student organization that promotes sustainable agriculture through gardening, lectures, workshops, other educational
activities.
- Net Impact Chapter at UW-Madison School of Business
- Student organization committed to using the power of business to create a better world and helping students connect
local business leaders who promote issues of social equity and environmental sustainability within their companies.
Contact Us
This site is maintained by the
Nelson Institute for Environmental
Studies. If you have comments
or questions, please contact us.
