A Veterinary Approach to Sustainable Food and Farming - May 2024
Are you ready to support meaningful change for a sustainable future? Join our online course today, created by Vet Sustain in conjunction with VetSalus
Secure your place for £1,250 (+VAT) to get started at your own pace today! Registration will close on Thursday 4th July.
As farm animal health professionals, we have privileged access to the farming businesses that represent our food system, the unrivalled trust of our clients, and a multidisciplinary skill set. This course will explore farming systems of the world, focusing on better and efficient farming practices, the principles of sustainable and regenerative farming and how we as veterinary professionals can drive behavioural change. With these tools, we are in an ideal position to help develop the sustainable food and farming system we need to meet the nutritional needs of our growing population, combat climate change, regenerate ecosystems, secure rural livelihoods and safeguard animal welfare. This online learning course has been written and developed by a collaborative team from Vet Sustain and VetSalus.
Sustainability course designed for veterinarians and paraprofessionals working with production animals
Self-Paced Online Learning Course
Designed to fit around busy work and life schedules
Explore the principles of sustainable and regenerative farming
Create a plan to support your clients in transitioning to a more sustainable way of farming
Equivalent to 35 hours of CPD
Attain a LANTRA accredited certificate
Take a closer look at the course, including some FREE lesson previews!
Course overview
FREE PREVIEWWelcome to the Course from Laura
Welcome to the Course from David
Modules
FREE PREVIEWWhat to Expect
FREE PREVIEWHow to Navigate The Course - Top Tips
Pre-CPD Questionnaire
Directory of recommended reading and resources
About us
FREE PREVIEWGlossary of Terms
Brief overview
FREE PREVIEWModule champion: Ruth Clements
FREE PREVIEWTASK Module 1 Introductions
1.1 Introduction
FREE PREVIEW1.2 Sustainability 101
FREE PREVIEWTASK 1.2 Sustainability 101
1.2.1 Sustainability 101
1.2.1 Quick quiz
1.3 The Anthropocene
TASK 1.3 The Anthropocene
DEEP DIVE 1.3 The Anthropocene
1.3.1 The Anthropocene
DEEP DIVE 1.3.1 The Anthropocene
1.3.1 Quick quiz
1.4 Sustainability: a destination or journey?
TASK 1.4 Sustainability: a destination or journey?
1.5 Meaningful change
TASK 1.5 Meaningful change
1.5.1 Meaningful change
TASK 1.5.1 Meaningful change
1.5.2 Meaningful change
TASK 1.5.2 Meaningful change
DEEP DIVE 1.5.2 Meaningful change
1.5.2 Quick quiz
1.6 Voluntary sustainability initiatives in food and farming
DEEP DIVE 1.6 Voluntary sustainability initiatives in food and farming
TASK 1.6 Voluntary sustainability initiatives in food and farming
1.7 Why veterinary professionals?
1.7.1 Why veterinary professionals?
1.7.2 Why veterinary professionals?
TASK 1.7.2 Why veterinary professionals?
1.7.2 Quick quiz
1.8 A changing profession
TASK 1.8 A changing profession
DEEP DIVE 1.8 A changing profession
Final reflection
Introducing: The project
Project Guidelines
References and further reading
Brief Overview
Module champion: Rob Howe
TASK Module 2 Introductions
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Sustainability in our own operations – why is it so important?
TASK 2.2 Sustainability in our own operations – why is it so important?
2.2 Quick quiz
2.3 What are other sectors doing?
DEEP DIVE 2.3 What are other sectors doing?
TASK 2.3 What are other sectors doing?
2.4 Sustainability in clinical veterinary settings – responsible resource use
FREE PREVIEWDEEP DIVE 2.4 Sustainability in clinical veterinary settings – responsible resource use
2.4.1 Sustainability in clinical veterinary settings – responsible resource use
DEEP DIVE 2.4.1 Sustainability in clinical veterinary settings – responsible resource use
2.4.2 Sustainability in clinical veterinary settings – responsible resource use
2.5 Sustainability in clinical veterinary settings – sustainable operations
TASK 2.5 Sustainability in clinical veterinary settings – sustainable operations
TASK 2.5 Sustainability in clinical veterinary settings – sustainable operations
DEEP DIVE 2.5 Sustainability in clinical veterinary settings – sustainable operations
2.5.1 Sustainability in clinical veterinary settings – sustainable operations
DEEP DIVE 2.5.1 Sustainability in clinical veterinary settings – sustainable operations
TASK 2.5.1 Discuss Telemedicine
2.5.1 Quick quiz
2.6 Sustainability in clinical veterinary settings – use medicines responsibly
TASK 2.6 Sustainability in clinical veterinary settings – use medicines responsibly
DEEP DIVE 2.6 Sustainability in clinical veterinary settings – use medicines responsibly
2.6 Quick quiz
2.7 Sustainability in clinical veterinary settings – empowering the team
TASK 2.7 Sustainability in clinical veterinary settings – empowering the team
2.7 Quick quiz
2.8 Engaging and sustaining the whole veterinary team
TASK 2.8 Engaging and sustaining the whole veterinary team
DEEP DIVE 2.8 Engaging and sustaining the whole veterinary team
2.8.1 Engaging and sustaining the whole veterinary team
Final reflection
References and further reading
Brief Overview
Module champion: Alice Geddes
TASK Module 3 Introductions
3.1 Sustainability Challenges in our Food Systems
TASK 3.1 Sustainability Challenges in our Food Systems
3.2 Sustainability challenges – Environment
DEEP DIVE 3.2 Sustainability challenges – Environment
DEEP DIVE 3.2 Sustainability challenges – Environment
3.2.1 Sustainability challenges – Environment
TASK 3.2.1 Sustainability challenges – Environment
3.2.3 Sustainability challenges - People & Animals
DEEP DIVE 3.2.3 Sustainability challenges - People & Animals
3.2.4 Sustainability challenges - People
DEEP DIVE 3.2.4 Sustainability challenges - People
3.3 Frameworks and approaches to consider sustainability challenges
DEEP DIVE 3.3 Frameworks and approaches to consider sustainability challenges
DEEP DIVE 3.3 Frameworks and approaches to consider sustainability challenges
3.3 Quick quiz
3.3.1 Ethics: People
3.3.2 Ethics: Animals
TASK 3.3.2 Ethics: Animals
3.3.3 Ethics: Animals
TASK 3.3.3 Ethics: Animals
3.4 Opportunities for change
TASK 3.4 Opportunities for change
3.4 Quick quiz
3.5 Challenges or opportunities in food and farming – key debates
DEEP DIVE 3.5 Challenges or opportunities in food and farming – key debates
3.5.1 Challenges or opportunities in food and farming – key debates
TASK 3.5.1 Challenges or opportunities in food and farming – key debates
3.5.1 Quick quiz
3.6 Changing demand to address sustainability
3.6.1 Changing demand to address sustainability
3.6.1 Quick quiz
Final Reflection
References and further reading
Brief Overview
Module Champion: David Black
TASK Module 4 Introductions
4.1 Why do we farm?
TASK 4.1 Why do we farm?
4.1.1 Why do we farm?
DEEP DIVE 4.1.1 Why do we farm?
4.1.1 Quick quiz
4.2 What do we farm?
4.3 Where do we farm?
TASK 4.3 Where do we farm?
4.4 Farming systems
DEEP DIVE 4.4 Farming systems
4.4.1 Farming systems
4.4.2 Farming systems
DEEP DIVE 4.4.2 Farming systems
TASK 4.4 Farming systems
4.5 What wild food do we catch and harvest?
DEEP DIVE 4.5 What wild food do we catch and harvest?
4.5 Quick quiz
4.6 Farming Livelihoods
TASK 4.6 Farming Livelihoods
4.6.1 Farming Livelihoods
TASK 4.6.1 Farming Livelihoods
4.7 The role of veterinary professionals in different farming systems of the world
DEEP DIVE 4.7 The role of veterinary professionals in different farming systems of the world
4.7 Quick quiz
Final Reflection
References
Brief Overview
Module Champion: Navaratnam Partheeban
TASK Module 5 Introductions
5.1 Existing structures and classifications for ‘Better’ food and farming
5.1.1 Legislation and policy
TASK 5.1.1 Legislation and policy
5.2 Assurance schemes
TASK 5.2 Assurance schemes
5.2 Quick Quiz
5.3 Food business standards
TASK 5.3 Food business standards
5.3.1 Food business standards
DEEP DIVE 5.3.1 Food business standards
5.3.1 Quick Quiz
5.4 The role of veterinary professionals in farming standards
5.5 How can we assess which countries, companies and assurance schemes are supporting ‘Better’ farming?
TASK 5.5 How can we assess which countries, companies and assurance schemes are supporting ‘Better’ farming?
DEEP DIVE 5.5 How can we assess which countries, companies and assurance schemes are supporting ‘Better’ farming?
5.5.1 Labour Rights Index
TASK 5.5.1 Assurance Schemes
5.5.2 Animal Welfare
DEEP DIVE 5.5.2 Animal Welfare
DEEP DIVE 5.5.2 Animal Welfare
DEEP DIVE 5.5.2 Animal Welfare
5.5.2 Quick quiz
5.6 On-farm tools to measure ‘Better’ farming outcomes
TASK 5.6 On-farm tools to measure ‘Better’ farming outcomes
TASK 5.6 On-farm tools to measure ‘Better’ farming outcomes
5.6.1 On-farm tools to measure ‘Better’ farming outcomes
DEEP DIVE 5.6 On-farm tools to measure ‘Better’ farming outcomes
5.6 Quick quiz
5.7 The importance of metrics
DEEP DIVE 5.7 The importance of metrics
5.7.1 The importance of metrics
DEEP DIVE 5.7.1 The importance of metrics
TASK 5.7.1 The importance of metrics
5.7.1 Quick quiz
Final reflection
References
Take a look at the course content in more detail with our free preview.
We are proud to be supported by LANTRA who have accredited the course and will provide certification to all course completers. The course is also accredited by the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
![]() |
![]() |
The price of the course is £1,250.00 +VAT
Not from the UK? No Problem!
Currency |
Price |
Purchase Link |
Currency |
Price |
Purchase Link |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australian Dollars (AUD) | $2,400.00 | ![]() |
New Zealand Dollars (NZD) |
$2,600.00 | ![]() |
Danish Krone (DKK) | DKK 10,995.00 | ![]() |
US Dollars (USD) |
$1,595.00 | ![]() |
Euros (EUR) | €1,475.00 | ![]() |
Registration for our current cohort is now open, and will close on Thursday 4th July. If you are interested in joining our next cohort, please register your interest with us.
Am I eligible to sign up for the course?
The course is aimed at veterinarians and those working in vet-led businesses, and whilst there are no specific requirements, all students are expected to have undertaken an undergraduate degree, technical qualification as a paraprofessional, or a relevant diploma. If you are unsure please contact us before you enrol on the course.
How much is the course?
The full price of the course will be £1,250 +VAT per student. Overseas (non-UK) businesses may be eligible for a non-VAT price of £1,250, please contact us for more information.
How long with the course take me to complete?
We expect each module to take between 3 and 5hours to complete over the course of 6-9 months (there are 10 modules = up to 50 hours). In addition there are a number of deep dives and a list of further reading for those interested in a particular area or wishing to expand their knowledge further. We highly recommend diarising regular study sessions to keep progressing through the course content.
How much support with I have during the course?
There will be a live (and recorded) tutorial with the community and course organisers at the beginning, middle and end of the course to consolidate the learning material, address specific questions and participate in discussions. Students will also join a community of veterinary professionals all taking the course at the same time, to help each other along the way.
What do I need to accomplish in order to complete the course and receive my LANTRA accredited certificate?
During the course there will be tasks and quick quizzes to solidify learning throughout the course. At the end of the course, you will also be required to submit an assignment which will be reviewed by our course organisers, with either a pass or fail awarded to each student. In this assignment, you should set out how you would support a farm animal client during their transition to more sustainable ways of farming. We’re looking for evidence that you can apply your knowledge to a practical scenario - which can either be fictitious, semi-fictitious or a real-life farming client, whom you may or may not wish to engage with as part of the project. Your submission should take the form of a written report, case study or essay, of a maximum of 2500 words. Alongside your written piece, you may optionally choose to submit an audio recording, interview or video.
BVM&S MSc MRCVS
BSc MSc DPhil
MA Vet MB MSc PhD Dip ECZM (Wildlife Population Health) MRCVS
Wholesome Food From Healthy Animals
Vet Sustain supports veterinary professionals to become leading forces for sustainability