The specialization Sustainable Food Systems of the MSc Organic Agriculture focuses on a social sciences perspectives on organic agriculture and organic food supply chains.

To attain the widely shared goal of the expansion of organic production, the demand for organic products would need to grow. Socio-economic constraints are major bottlenecks to such an expansion. To attain the societal goal of a healthy and environmentally friendly food and fibre production system, improved understanding of consumer preferences, psychology and communication theory is essential. Production, processing, and marketing of organic products is increasingly affected by international and national policies and legislation. Insight into the development and formulation of such legislation is crucial to the expansion of the organic food and fibre production system.

For a major in Rural Sociology, next to the course RSO-34806 Social Transformation towards Sustainable Food Systems in the common part of the MOA programme, at least one of the following restricted optional courses have to be taken:

• The Sociology of Farming and Rural Life (RSO-30806)
• Sociology of Food and Place (RSO-31806)

Recommended however is to take both courses or take at least an additional optional course, e.g.:

• Food Culture and Customs (RSO-22306)  
• Globalization and Sustainability of Food Production and Consumption (ENP-31806)