Transdisciplinary strategies for nature-based solutions: advancing sustainable farming with a focus on the Global South

Agriculture is the backbone of livelihoods in the Global South, particularly in East Africa, where most farmers are smallholders relying on minimal inputs and facing challenges like climate change, pests, and diseases. This course invites SLU PhD students to Kenya to join a multinational team tackling these issues through transdisciplinary research and real-life case studies.

Drawing on SLU’s collaborations in projects such as Erasmus+ ADVALUE, AgBio4SSA, and Biodiversa+ inSALSA, the course focuses on interdisciplinary knowledge agribiologicals - sustainable alternatives to conventional agricultural inputs, including biofertilizers, biopesticides, and biostimulants. While these solutions are gaining traction globally, their potential in Africa remains largely untapped, presenting a critical area for exploration.

The course is designed to provide students with a broad experience and a transdisciplinary foundation for addressing sustainable agriculture in the Global South, complementing their own areas of specialization. Through fieldwork and collaboration with East African universities, students will gain practical insights into agricultural challenges, value chains, and the transformative role of agribiologicals in building resilient farming systems.

Syllabus and other information

P000125 Transdisciplinary strategies for nature-based solutions: advancing sustainable farming with a focus on the Global South, 3.0 Credits

Subjects

Education cycle

Postgraduate level

Grading scale

Pass / Failed

Prior knowledge

Applicants should be enrolled as PhD students. The primary requirement is an interest in the subject, along with some prior knowledge related to agriculture in the Global South. While familiarity with basic biology, plant protection, plant breeding, and social sciences is advantageous, it is not mandatory. The course emphasizes transdisciplinarity and collaborative learning, encouraging participants to gain insights from each other's expertise.

Objectives

Upon completing the course, students will be able to: - Design a project proposal based on a real-life case study of agribiologicals. - Present, defend, and critically evaluate their project in front of audience - Implement transdisciplinary approaches to develop solutions in multicultural and interdisciplinary contexts. - Apply pest and pathogen management strategies to analyse research findings and scientific literature. - Understand the role of breeding for efficient use of agribiologicals. - Utilize systems thinking to address interconnected, multi-scale challenges. - Use qualitative and participatory research methods for data collection, analysis, and reflection. - Understand the interconnectedness of human and natural systems. - Apply participatory methods to actively engage stakeholders and foster collaborative knowledge co-production.

Content

This PhD course brings together students from various universities and fields of expertise, enabling them to share knowledge and experiences in a stimulating environment. The course is partly based on Erasmus+ ADVALUE Module 2 – Transdisciplinary Research, with physical lectures scheduled for June 2026 at Pwani University, Kenya. The course will begin with an online kick-off session three weeks before the physical start in Kenya. During this half-day session, participants will receive introductory information, a pre-lesson on collaboration and collaborative learning, and will be assigned to teams with specific roles. Case studies will be allocated, and trip planning will be discussed. Clear instructions will be provided on the rationale and purpose of the activities, their relevance, and the expected outcomes. Expectations for individual conduct, roles, and team dynamics will also be clearly outlined. Physical lectures will be delivered at Pwani University and the University of Nairobi, Kenya, by international teaching staff with complementary expertise and diverse perspectives. Students will gain practical experience through field visits to agribiological living labs established under the AgBio4SSA and inSALSA projects. The first part of the course introduces students to transdisciplinary research in agricultural sciences. Students will develop an understanding of the characteristics and structures of transdisciplinary research and learn how it can address global challenges like climate change and food security, incorporating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The course will also emphasize the importance of addressing gender inequalities and ensuring inclusivity in the research process, integrating gender perspectives into transdisciplinary research frameworks. To provide a theoretical background, systems thinking, systems approach, and the concept of social-ecological systems will be explained. Students will learn about the characteristics and issues of African food systems through case studies. Lectures will also explore the role of agribiologicals in cropping systems, their impact on the microbiome, the potential for breeding for agribiologicals, and the significance of objective field performance testing through plant phenotyping. Practical exercises will equip students with experiential knowledge of various participatory tools for knowledge integration and co-creation in a transdisciplinary project context. Emphasis will be placed on collaborative learning to enhance student engagement by incorporating the social aspects of active learning. Students will work in small groups on scenario-based learning activities, developing real-life case studies on agribiologicals and applying their experiences from the living labs visits. The final part of the course will include a project defence, where students will present group pitches, create infographics, and participate in a virtual poster session. Individual project reports will be submitted for later evaluation.

Additional information

This course, organized by SLU's LTV Faculty, builds on the ADVALUE Erasmus+ project led by Anna Manourova and with participant Camilla Söderquist, the AgriBio4SSA Formas grant, and the inSALSA Biodiversa+ project. It represents a significant collation and extension of these initiatives, addressing critical global challenges such as climate change, food security, and sustainable agricultural practices.

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