UCD Sustainable Food Systems

Passionate about the future of food and our planet? UCD’s Sustainable Food Systems degree is your chance to study how we can feed a growing global population while protecting natural resources and supporting social and economic wellbeing.

Nourish the Future, protect the Planet

This program is perfect for students who are excited about sustainability and want to explore the entire food chain, from farm to fork. You’ll dive into the complex challenge of producing delicious, nutritious food in ways that are great for the environment, socially responsible, and economically viable. You'll examine how climate change, biodiversity, policy, trade, consumer behaviour, and innovation all work together to shape the food we eat. Whether your passion is farming, food processing, environmental science, nutrition, policy, or entrepreneurship, this course will equip you with the knowledge and tools to make a real impact on the future of food.

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With an agricultural background and an interest in the wider food industry, Sustainable Food Systems was the perfect fit for me. The course connects all aspects of the food chain with sustainability at its core.

Aoife Joyce, Current student

Career opportunities

A Gateway to Diverse Roles

Graduates of Sustainable Food Systems are in high demand across the food chain and beyond!
Your career pathways could include:

Food production, processing, and retail: with roles in sustainability, supply chain management, and innovation.
Environmental and agri-food policy: in government departments, EU agencies, and international organizations.
Advisory and consultancy work: in sustainability, food security, nutrition, and public health.
NGOs and international development: supporting projects in food access, equity, and environmental protection.
Marketing, sales, and entrepreneurship: including launching your own start-up in areas like sustainable packaging or food innovation.

Further opportunities

You can also choose to continue your education with a postgraduate degree, including MSc and PhD programmes such as:

Sustainable Agriculture
Food Systems
Nutrition
Food Policy and
Environmental Science

Aoife Marie Murphy | Sustainable Nutrition Manager, Kerry Group

This is a really exciting time to get involved in such a programme because companies all over the world are building out sustainability teams in order to meet their sustainability goals.

My role did not exist three years ago and many similar roles will become available in the future across the food industry, providing excellent employment opportunities for graduates of programmes such as Sustainable Food Systems.

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Our Experts

Our academic staff is renowned for their unwavering dedication to their subjects and their commitment to providing students with an exceptional learning experience. They are experts in their respective fields and are passionate about nurturing the next generation of learners. They are committed to providing you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in the industry.

Zoe McKay

Assistant Professor - Animal & Crop Sciences, Programme Director Sustainable Food Systems

Zoe teaches and coordinates practical modules in grassland, forage, and dairy production, giving students hands-on experience at UCD's Lyons Farm.

Her research focuses on the sustainability and resilience of grass-based systems. Key areas include grazing management, evaluating novel forage species (legumes and plantain), and the impacts of alternative feeds on milk production and nutrient excretion. She leads applied projects at UCD Lyons Estate and with industry, examining topics like nutrient cycling and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from dairy systems.

Combining her academic research with a farming background, Zoe translates her findings into practical recommendations for farmers and policy-makers, actively contributing to knowledge transfer across the agri-food sector.

Magdalena Necpalova

Assistant Professor (Ad Astra Fellow) - Environment & Sustainable Resource Management

Magdalena teaches soil and environmental science across all programmes at UCD. She coordinates practical modules that train students in using advanced ecosystem models, such as DayCent. This process-based model is widely used to simulate carbon, nitrogen, and water dynamics in soils and vegetation, aiding estimates of crop yields, soil carbon change, and greenhouse gas fluxes.

Her research focuses on soil carbon and nitrogen cycling, greenhouse gas emissions, and the development and evaluation of biogeochemical models to inform climate-smart land management. She refines models like DayCent to improve estimates of nitrate leaching, soil carbon change, and nitrous oxide fluxes in real farming systems.

Magdalena leads major international projects, including the ClimateCropping consortium, translating model development into decision support for land management.

Alessandra Marcon Gasperini

Assistant Professor - Food Science & Human Nutrition

Alessandra teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. She coordinates and teaches modules covering food safety, sustainability, and diet-related topics, including the Level 4 master's module, Sustainability in Diet.

Her research is at the intersection of applied mycology, mycotoxin science, and food safety. She leads work on predicting and mitigating fungal contamination in food chains, exploring how climate change, food processing, and supply chain decisions affect mycotoxin production and human exposure. Recent studies have linked mycotoxin exposure with gut health.

Alessandra has held academic roles internationally (UK and Brazil) and combines laboratory mycology, analytical chemistry, and translational approaches to inform safer, more resilient food systems.

Brian Tobin

Assistant Professor - Forestry

Brian's area of research focuses on forest ecosystems, with particular interest in how forest biomass allocation—both above- and belowground—productivity, and carbon sequestration respond to disturbances such as forest management practices and extreme climatic events. He also works on short rotation biomass and energy crop systems, the development of biochar products from agricultural biomass waste streams, and pollinator ecology.

Brian is responsible for the teaching of dendrology, forest harvesting as well as apiculture, is the university beekeeper and manages the apiary in Rosemount, the Environmental Research Station.

Sustainable Food Systems and UN Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable Development goals

This program is designed with a direct link to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a student, you'll explore how food systems contribute to and can help achieve these goals.

Engaging with the SDGs throughout your studies ensures your learning isn't just academically rigorous - it's also directly connected to solving some of the world’s most urgent challenges.

Sustainable Development Goals 1 & 2

No Poverty (SDG 1):
By supporting fair livelihoods across the food chain.

Zero Hunger (SDG 2):
By improving food security and sustainable food production.

Sustainable development goals 1 & 2 logos

Sustainable Development Goals 12 & 13

Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12):
By reducing waste and designing circular food systems.

Climate Action (SDG 13):
By studying ways to lower emissions and build resilience in food production.

Sustainable Development goals 14 & 15

Life Below Water (SDG 14):
By examining how aquaculture and fisheries can be managed sustainably.

Life on Land (SDG 15):
By protecting biodiversity and managing land responsibly.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

As Ireland’s largest and most globally engaged University, UCD is committed to providing world-class facilities and infrastructure that support the needs of our community and our strategic goals as set out in the UCD Strategy

Through the reimagining of our campus, we strive to promote a friendly and accessible environment which encourages engagement with university life and local communities.

UCD Lyons Farm

UCD Lyons Farm is a principal agricultural research and teaching resource, spanning approximately 250 hectares near Celbridge, Co. Kildare, operating under the UCD College of Health and Agricultural Sciences. The farm operates as a mixed enterprise, supporting both undergraduate and postgraduate studies, as well as Continuous Professional Development for agri-food professionals.

The farm supports over €20 million in active research grants and provides state-of-the-art infrastructure for various enterprises, including:

Mixed Enterprises: Beef, Crops, Dairy, Equine, Sheep, and Pigs.
Specialised Facilities: Includes a modern Dairy Calf Education and Research Facility, and infrastructure to support both the School of Agriculture and Food Science and the School of Veterinary Medicine.
Innovation: The farm hosts the AgTechUCD Innovation Centre, which accelerates early-stage start-ups and SMEs with disruptive innovations in the agri-food and veterinary sectors.

The facilities serve as a fundamental asset for research and learning, utilized by UCD faculty, students, and external partners in agri-food and veterinary medicine.

The facilities are available for use by UCD faculty and students, as well as external academics and industry users

Global opportunities

A highlight of the degree is the 16-week Professional Work Experience (PWE) in your third year. With support from a dedicated lecturer, you'll organise a placement that matches your interests, whether in Ireland or abroad. Students have worked in areas like food policy, food processing, supply chain management, retail, agri-environmental consultancy, and with NGOs.
This placement is a fantastic opportunity to gain industry insights, build your professional network, and apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to real-world situations. For many students, it’s a career-shaping experience that often leads directly to graduate employment.

You can also choose to study abroad for a trimester at one of UCD’s 25+ partner universities, including prestigious institutions like Michigan State University and UC Davis in the USA. These international experiences will give you a global perspective on food systems and sustainability, boosting your career prospects worldwide.

Shape a Sustainable Future

The Sustainable Food System degree is for students interested and passionate about the three pillars of Sustainability (environmental, economic, and social) and how they apply to all components of the food chain.

This course will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the entire food chain, from on farm production to human consumption and the scientific principles underpinning it. It will explore the complex challenge of sustainably producing food to meet the nutritional requirements of a growing world population while protecting the planet’s limited natural resources.

UCD Sustainable Food Systems Programme in Detail

Year 1

Your year 1 builds the scientific foundation with core subjects like chemistry and mathematics. You'll gain foundational knowledge in Land Use and the Environment, Agricultural Economics, and be introduced to the programme's core concepts in Introduction to Sustainability and Our Food, Our Planet: Introduction to Sustainable Food Systems.

Year 2

You'll deepen your knowledge of food production, environment, and health with modules such as Soil Science, Agricultural Microbiology, and Food Macronutrients. This year also develops vital analytical and professional skills, through modules like Applied Biostatistics and Communication in Sustainability.

Year 3

In third year the focus is on policy, data, and advanced environmental concepts, including modules such as Environmental Data and Modelling, Food Poverty and Policy, and Climate, Carbon and Soil. A major feature is the 16-week Professional Work Experience (PWE) placement in a real-world industry setting.

Year 4

The final year integrates complex concepts like One Health and Life Cycle Assessment. You'll study key areas such as Food Chain Integrity and Sustainability in Diet. Learning culminates in the Sustainable Food Systems Project, a significant piece of independent research.

Your Journey Starts Here

Ready to take the next step?

Passionate about global change, environmental resilience, and consumer health?

UCD’s Sustainable Food Systems degree combines science, business, and policy to prepare you for a dynamic, global career. Learn to address the complex challenge of feeding a growing world while protecting natural resources and fostering social equity. With strong job prospects across the entire food chain, it’s your path to making a lasting impact on the planet and its people.

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UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science

Agriculture and Food Science Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.

T: +353 1 716 7082/7194 | Location Map

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