Around 828 million people still face hunger, and 3.1 billion cannot afford a healthy diet. Without transforming how food is produced and consumed, the world risks missing Sustainable Development Goal 2 , ending hunger and promoting sustainable agriculture, by 2030. At the same time, global food demand is projected to increase by up to 70% by 2050. This increase will place unprecedented pressure on both food systems and ecosystem health.
Meeting this challenge requires a new generation of professionals equipped with scientific knowledge and practical skills to build resilient and sustainable farming systems. In response, CABI is working with Imperial College London, on their new sustainable agriculture MSc that includes integrated pest management (IPM) training. Imperial College London’s MSc Living Planet with Sustainable Agriculture and Technology will prepare future agricultural technologists, scientists, and sustainability professionals for leading careers in sustainable agriculture. This programme strongly aligns with CABI’s mission and expertise in sustainable agriculture.
Students explore key areas such as biological control, integrated pest management (IPM), and agritech innovation. They also develop essential research skills in data science, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), genomics, and bioinformatics. These tools are essential for modern agricultural research and informed decision-making.
A century of leadership in sustainable agriculture
By working with Imperial College London on the Sustainable Agriculture MSc, CABI contributes its expertise directly to student learning by delivering teaching in Integrated Crop Management (ICM), including Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and biological control. Through these modules, students gain practical, science-based skills that support sustainable farming systems. They also have the opportunity to engage in real‑world projects that address pressing global food security challenges.
For over 100 years, CABI has provided practical, science‑based solutions to agricultural and environmental problems, with expertise in IPM, biological control, invasive species management, pesticide risk reduction, and sustainable farming. Building on this foundation, CABI applies science to practice by generating high‑quality evidence, developing proven innovations, and sharing essential knowledge with the communities that need it most.
How the sustainable agriculture MSc aligns with CABI’s innovative agricultural research
This agricultural technology master’s closely aligns with CABI’s work and tackles the challenges and opportunities facing agriculture today. A key component of the course is biological control. CABI advances arthropod biological control through rigorous research with universities and other partners addressing classical as well as augmentative biological control. This includes surveying natural enemies in a pest’s native range, conducting host‑range testing to ensure safety, and using climate‑simulation models to assess how well potential agents could establish and perform. Other research action addresses the augmentation of beneficial nematodes against root worms, improving the formulation of the nematode applications, or the optimization of biocontrol through ecostacking against pollen beetle and the development of targeted biopesticide applications against cabbage stem flea beetle in European oilseed rape systems.
Biological control solutions for sustainable agriculture
With more than 80 years of experience in classical biological control, CABI has built a strong track record of success including the use of natural enemies to manage papaya mealybug in East Africa and development of biological solutions for major invasive pests such as fall armyworm. CABI has also partnered with CHAP (Crop Health and Protection), Russell Bio Solutions Ltd, and H&T Bioseed to develop environmentally sustainable solutions for controlling the destructive Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephalus). The collaboration aims to give UK farmers more effective, eco‑friendly CSFB management tools to improve crop protection and boost yields. CABI is also exploring the use of a parasitic fly as a classical biological control agent against the Japanese beetle, another invasive pest threatening crops and ecosystems.
Additionally, CABI continues to lead research efforts to support the sustainable management of fall armyworm in Africa and Asia and is now extending this work into Europe, where the pest has recently begun to establish. The work is being delivered through PlantwisePlus and other key projects dedicated to addressing this major pest. Research focuses on parasitoids like Telenomus remus and Campoletis sonorensis, along with entomopathogens such as Metarhizium rileyi, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), and Beauveria bassiana, as environmentally compatible alternatives to chemical pesticides. Through field trials and farmer‑centred studies across Africa, CABI has helped show how these biocontrol options can be integrated into broader IPM strategies for long‑term, resilient management of this invasive pest.
Digital technologies for sustainable agriculture
In the Agricultural Technologies and Data Science & GIS modules, students also explore digital development, including the design and application of digital advisory tools, data policy and best practices, and the use of data science and modelling in real agricultural settings. CABI’s work provides excellent examples in these areas. These include the Pest Risk Information Service (PRISE), which combines Earth observation technology, real-time field data, and pest lifecycle modeling to forecast outbreak risks in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the use of remote sensing to map parthenium weed in Pakistan.
Real‑world research to launch your career
A core part of the MSc is a five‑month independent research project, where students design their own study with an Imperial supervisor and may collaborate with CABI or other partners, or take a placement contributing to real‑world work. Projects range from testing biological control agents and assessing pesticide‑reduction strategies to developing IPM approaches, climate‑adaptation measures, or digital advisory tools. This blend of academic and practical training equips graduates to drive sustainable, resilient farming solutions across research, agritech, NGOs, and policy. They leave prepared to tackle pests, climate pressures, and improve environmentally responsible food systems.
Start your sustainable agriculture MSc journey
Find out more and apply by 29 April to gain skills in agricultural technology, IPM and shape your career in sustainable agriculture.
Additional information
Related News & Blogs
Pesticide risk reduction supports sustainable food systems – here’s how
Reducing pesticide risks protects farmers, consumers, and the environment. On World Food Day, CABI highlights how safer, science-based pest management supports sustainable food systems and strengthens food security.
16 October 2025
