The CPSC Agroecology Research Program invites young minds to become real researchers. Here, students don’t just learn about farming and the environment. They ask questions, go into the field, collect evidence and share what they discover. Guided by mentors, our young researchers study how farms can grow healthy food while protecting soil, water, biodiversity and the communities that depend on them.
Every project in this program follows the same basic path:
Identifying a research problem – noticing something worth investigating.
Formulating research questions and hypotheses – turning curiosity into a clear question and a testable prediction.
Reviewing the literature – learning what others have already found.
Collecting data – through surveys, interviews, observations and experiments.
Organising and analysing data – using tables and graphs to spot patterns and interpret results.
Writing and presenting – preparing a research report and sharing findings with confidence.
Agroecology applies the science of ecology to agriculture. It looks at a farm not as a factory but as a living system of plants, animals, soil organisms, water, climate and people, all connected.
Our researchers build their understanding on key ideas including:
Principles of Agroecology and Agroecosystem Dynamics
Ecological Intensification and Regenerative Agriculture
Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Services
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Planetary Boundaries
Socio-Ecological Resilience and the Sustainable Development Goals
Systems Thinking and Transdisciplinary Approaches
Students also learn to identify research gaps, unanswered questions where their work can make a genuine contribution, and to explore opportunities for building sustainable food systems.
Our young researchers work across five themes. Explore each theme below to see their projects.
Theme 1: Climate
Agroecosystem Resilience, Ecological Intensification and Climate Adaptation Pathways
How can farms withstand heat, drought and erratic rainfall, and adapt to a changing climate?
Theme 2: Soil
Soil Biogeochemistry, Nutrient Circularity and Regenerative Resource Management
How can we keep soil alive and fertile by recycling nutrients and restoring natural processes?
Theme 3: Biodiversity
Biodiversity Conservation, Functional Ecology and Ecosystem Service Optimisation in Agricultural Landscapes
How do pollinators, birds, insects and plants support farming, and how can we protect them?
Theme 4: Food Systems and Society
Sustainable Food Systems, Circular Bioeconomy and Socio-Ecological Transformation
How does food travel from farm to plate, and how can that journey be fairer, healthier and less wasteful?
Theme 5: Emerging Technologies
Digital Agroecology, Systems Modelling and Precision Sustainability for Future Farming
How can sensors, satellite imagery, data and models help farmers make smarter, more sustainable decisions?