Agricultural production is under increasing pressure from global forces such as climate change, resource depletion, economic pressures, and shifting population dynamics. This course explored the urgent need for sustainable and resilient agricultural systems through a transdisciplinary lens.
Focusing on the bee industry (apiculture) as a case study, particularly in Thailand, students examined the complex interactions between climate variability, environmental degradation, economic pressures, social change and policy responses that impact food production. Emphasis was placed on systems thinking and the description and analysis of environmental, economic/commercial and social systems to propose integrative approaches to sustainable apiculture in the distinct settings of central, southern, and northern Thailand. Knowledge shared drew from bee agronomy, environmental science (including climate science), economics, and social sciences.
Students engaged with stakeholders from government, commercial, and community sectors to gather information that allowed them to analyse the environmental and social dimensions of bee farming, bee hunting, and the production of bee products and services.
A One Health approach was used to examine the multidirectional interactions between apiculture, climate threats, and human health, considering issues such as pesticide use, habitat destruction, and disease outbreaks.
Throughout the course, students were encouraged to gather, analyse and apply data about the actual situation in their region of Thailand, to ensure that their systems analysis was applied and grounded rather than merely abstract.
Course instructors:
– Assoc. Prof. Atsalek Rattanawannee (Kasetsart University)
– Asst. Prof. Chama Inson (Kasetsart University)
– Assoc. Prof. Thi Phuoc Lai Nguyen (Asian Institute of Technology)
– Assoc. Prof. Roy William Batterham (Thammasat University)
Support with course development:
– Dr. Gonnie Klabbers (Maastricht University),
– Ms. Avanti Wadugodapitiya (Maastricht University),
– Dr. Maureen Dar lang (evaluation) (Heidelberg University)
– Dr. Daeyun Kim (Kasetsart University).
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