Agricultural Sciences for Sustainability

Scienze agrarie per la sostenibilità
In-person programme
Agricultural Sciences for Sustainability
Course sheet
A.Y. 2026/2027
Master programme
LM-69 R - Scienze e tecnologie agrarie
Master programme
120
ECTS
Access
Open with entry requirements examination
2
Years
Course location
Milan
Language
Italian
The MSc degree course in Agricultural Sciences for Sustainability (belonging to the class of graduate courses in Agricultural Sciences and Technologies-LM-69), aims to prepare master's graduates responding to the profile of the modern agronomist: a professional figure with firm technical culture and a broad multidisciplinary vision of the agricultural system.
The learning program is primarily characterized by technical contents, based on the operational transfer of the most recent scientific acquisitions and on the applications of technological innovations in the area of agriculture.
The highly multidisciplinary learning program ensures the graduates gain a wide cultural and scientific vision and technical adaptability, along with a deep awareness of the function of modern agriculture ? which, in its most recent evolution, added to the original aim of producing food ? as well as the objectives of preserving the territory, guaranteeing the safety of products and protection of the environment.
Graduates acquire a multidisciplinary and integrated vision of problems that have to be faced in order to plan and manage the continuous adaptations of the agricultural production system to the new needs required by complex and advanced society.
Relying on firm multidisciplinary basis mostly related to the activities of the 1st year, students will acquire a well characterized specialistic profile through the 2nd year courses, and trough their thesis work that will be developed on a subject in the area of the specialization track chosen.
In order to graduate professionals ready to seize job opportunities offered by the most advanced scenarios of European agriculture, the master's degree program offers three tracks of specialization:
- farm management track, focused on the planning and management of agricultural production processes, the relations with the markets, the services for the farm and the supply chain of technical means, the distribution and transformation of raw products, and the economic-regulatory framework of farm activities;
- animal systems track, focused on breeding, the processes and technologies of the livestock farm, the management of quality, safety and sustainability of animal production, and the relations with the food supply chains;
- precision agriculture track, focused on site-specific crop management methods aimed to optimize and maximize the efficiency of production processes, automation technologies and digital farming, modelling to optimize the use of inputs, and the planning of production processes.
The students can also compose their own personalized specialization track according to their professional interests. Proposals of personalized specialization tracks are subject to the approval of the Collegio didattico board according to their consistence with the goals of the master's degree course.
Graduates in Agricultural Sciences for Sustainability are trained to take management roles in coordinating and planning production processes in crop and livestock farming, in the agri-food market chains and in the industry, private services and public bodies operating with the agricultural production sector.
The skills acquired by graduates in Agricultural Sciences for Sustainability therefore allow them to carry out entrepreneurial roles, managerial responsibilities, planning, consultancy and operational management in the following areas/sectors:
- technical and economic management of production processes in crop and livestock farms and in the related supply-chains;
- field and animal breeding technical assistance;
- companies or industries of technical means (seeds, fertilizers, crop protection products, feed, etc.) and of machinery, plants, structures, technologies and services for agriculture;
- agri-food chains for the distribution and processing of agricultural products, and produce marketing;
- administrative, regulatory, technical and economic consultancy professional services for agricultural business;
- digital and ICT technology companies for agriculture and precision farming;
- public bodies operating with agricultural activities and resources.
In particular, graduates in Agricultural Sciences for Sustainability may have the following career opportunities related to the chosen specialisation track:
- farm management track: management functions of direction and coordination in farms, agricultural enterprises and agri-food distribution and processing chain, in the agricultural sector of public bodies, professional consultancy, technical and commercial assistance services to companies and industries operating with agriculture;
- animal systems track: management functions of direction and coordination in livestock farms and animal product distribution and processing chain, technical and commercial assistance professional consultancy in livestock production and R&D in agriculture technologies companies;
- precision Agriculture track: technical or professional services to support agricultural production, ICT companies for agriculture (IT, modeling, remote sensing, etc.), innovation start-ups for the agri-food system, R&D in technology and agricultural machinery industry, and technical and commercial assistance services for farms.

Employment statistics (Almalaurea)
The Course of study in Agricultural Sciences gives many opportunities for stages abroad mainly through the Erasmus+ programme. About 30 foreign Universities of the EU are involved in this students exchange. The areas of study which can be followed by the students abroad are almost all those included in this course of study. In general, students who make a stage abroad attend local courses or participate in research for the preparation of their thesis. The learning agreement is outlined in collaboration with the person in charge for the Erasmus of the degree program, as regards both the choice of courses and the organization of the internship at the partner university. Students must obtain the formal approval of the examinations that they intend to carry out at the host university from professors who hold equivalent or similar teachings at the University of Milan before completing the learning agreement. As regards experimental activities abroad, which can constitute part or the entire program of the internship, a letter of agreement from a professor of the partner university is required, along with the formal approval on the objectives, on the program and on the term of the internship by a professor of the degree program, who will also act as supervisor. Other possibilities exist in terms of cultural exchange with non EU universities (in China, Japan, Latin America) not involved in the Erasmus programme.
Attendance is strongly recommended.
Enrolment
Admission Requirements and Knowledge

Graduates in degree programs in class L-25 (Agricultural and Forestry Sciences and Technologies), as well as in the corresponding class pursuant to Ministerial Decree 509/99, are eligible to apply for the Master's Degree in Agricultural Sciences for Sustainability.

Graduates from classes other than L-25 who have earned at least 45 credits in the following scientific-disciplinary fields may also be admitted:

BIO/01 - General Botany
BIO/04 - Plant Physiology
BIO/07 - Ecology
IUS/03 - Agricultural Law
IUS/14 - European Union Law
SECS-P/08 - Business Economics and Management
AGR/01 - Rural Economics and Valuation
AGR/02 - Agronomy and Field Crops
AGR/03 - General Arboriculture and Tree Crops
AGR/04 - Horticulture and Floriculture
AGR/05 - Forestry and Silviculture
AGR/07 - Agricultural Genetics
AGR/08 - Agricultural Hydraulics and Forestry Systems
AGR/09 - Agricultural Mechanics
AGR/10 - Rural Construction and Agroforestry
AGR/11 - General and Applied Entomology
AGR/12 - Plant Pathology
AGR/13 - Agricultural Chemistry
AGR/14 - Pedology
AGR/15 - Food Science and Technology
AGR/16 - Agricultural Microbiology
AGR/17 - General Animal Husbandry and Genetic Improvement
AGR/18 - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
AGR/19 - Specialty Animal Husbandry
AGR/20 - Animal Farming
VET/01 - Anatomy of Domestic Animals
VET/02 - Veterinary Physiology
ICAR/06 - Topography and Cartography
ICAR/15 - Landscape Architecture

Proficiency in English at a B1 level or higher under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is required for admission.

...

The admission notice is published on the page https://sas.cdl.unimi.it/it/iscriversi

Admission assessment

During the application review process, an examining committee will evaluate the curricular requirements and the adequacy of candidates' initial preparation through specific interviews held remotely on a monthly basis between June and December.
Candidates will receive instructions on how to participate online at least 10 days before the interview.
Along with their application, candidates must submit appropriate documentation certifying exams passed during their previous university career, so that their achievement of the curricular requirements can be assessed. Any gaps identified during the application process must be addressed before the interviews by contacting the relevant professors for the specific disciplines, who will be indicated to the candidates by the Chair of the examining committee. If adequate knowledge is not demonstrated by passing the disciplinary interviews indicated by the Chair of the examining committee, the student will not be admitted to the master's degree program.

Admission

Application for admission: from 22/01/2026 to 30/10/2026

Application for matriculation: from 05/05/2026 to 15/01/2027


Attachments and documents

Admission notice


Admissions A.Y. 2026/2027

Admission applications for Academic Year 2026/2027 are now open. Non-EU students visa applicants are required to apply for admission no later than 30 April 2026.

Learn more:
Programme description and courses list
year
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Agricultural Policy and Rural Appraisal 12 112 Italian AGRI-01/A
- Estimo rurale664AGRI-01/A
- Politica agraria648AGRI-01/A
Sustainable Cropping Systems 12 132 Italian AGRI-02/A
- Modellistica gestionale agronomica660AGRI-02/A
- Sistemi colturali e filiere672AGRI-02/A
First semester
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Data Analysis for Agriculture 6 64 Italian AGRI-09/A
Sustainable Livestock Systems 8 80 Italian AGRI-09/B AGRI-09/C
Second semester
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Farm Irrigation 8 80 Italian AGRI-04/A
Mechanization and Technologies for Agriculture 8 64 Italian AGRI-04/B
Open sessions
There are no specific sessions for these activities.
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
English Proficiency B2 (3 ECTS) 3 0 English NN
be activated by the A.Y. 2027/2028
year
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Laboratory of Precision Agronomy 6 64 Italian AGRI-02/A
First semester
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Agri-Food Marketing 6 64 Italian AGRI-01/A
Economics of Agricultural Markets 6 56 Italian AGRI-01/A
Economics of Innovation 6 48 Italian AGRI-01/A
Laboratory of Precision Irrigation 6 72 Italian AGRI-04/A
Landscape Planning 6 48 Italian AGRI-04/C
Livestock Structures and Sustainable Waste Management 6 60 Italian AGRI-04/C
Management of Crop Disease and Pest 6 56 Italian AGRI-05/A AGRI-05/B
Management of Spatial Variability and Gis for Precision Agriculture 6 60 Italian AGRI-04/A
Mechanization of Livestock Production 6 48 Italian AGRI-04/B
Precision Agriculture Equipment and Field Application 6 60 Italian AGRI-04/B
Precision Livestock Feeding 6 72 Italian AGRI-09/B
Remote Sensing for Agriculture 6 64 Italian CEAR-04/A
Smart Technologies for Precision Livestock 6 56 Italian AGRI-04/C
Sustainable Feed Production 6 60 Italian AGRI-09/B
Second semester
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Animal Genetics and Biotechnology 6 48 Italian AGRI-09/A
Energy for Agriculture 6 60 Italian AGRI-04/B
Precision Crop Protection 6 60 Italian AGRI-05/B
Precision Livestock Farming 6 56 Italian AGRI-09/C
Quality of Animal Products 6 56 Italian AGRI-09/C
Technical Standards and Best Practice in Agriculture 6 48 Italian AGRI-01/A AGRI-04/A AGRI-04/B AGRI-04/C
Conclusive activities
There are no specific sessions for these activities.
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Final Exam 24 0 Italian NN
Study plan rules
- Courses within a specialization track
The student can choose one of the three pre-approved specialization tracks. Any deviations from the proposed plans of study will be evaluated by the Collegio didattico.

Farm management track
5 courses chosen from the following:
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Agri-Food Marketing 6 64 Italian First semester AGRI-01/A
Economics of Agricultural Markets 6 56 Italian First semester AGRI-01/A
Economics of Innovation 6 48 Italian First semester AGRI-01/A
Landscape Planning 6 48 Italian First semester AGRI-04/C
Management of Crop Disease and Pest 6 56 Italian First semester AGRI-05/A AGRI-05/B
Energy for Agriculture 6 60 Italian Second semester AGRI-04/B
Technical Standards and Best Practice in Agriculture 6 48 Italian Second semester AGRI-01/A AGRI-04/A AGRI-04/B AGRI-04/C
- Animal systems track
5 courses chosen from the following:
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Livestock Structures and Sustainable Waste Management 6 60 Italian First semester AGRI-04/C
Mechanization of Livestock Production 6 48 Italian First semester AGRI-04/B
Precision Livestock Feeding 6 72 Italian First semester AGRI-09/B
Sustainable Feed Production 6 60 Italian First semester AGRI-09/B
Animal Genetics and Biotechnology 6 48 Italian Second semester AGRI-09/A
Precision Livestock Farming 6 56 Italian Second semester AGRI-09/C
Quality of Animal Products 6 56 Italian Second semester AGRI-09/C
- Precision Agriculture track:
5 courses chosen from the following
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Laboratory of Precision Agronomy 6 64 Italian year AGRI-02/A
Laboratory of Precision Irrigation 6 72 Italian First semester AGRI-04/A
Management of Spatial Variability and Gis for Precision Agriculture 6 60 Italian First semester AGRI-04/A
Precision Agriculture Equipment and Field Application 6 60 Italian First semester AGRI-04/B
Remote Sensing for Agriculture 6 64 Italian First semester CEAR-04/A
Smart Technologies for Precision Livestock 6 56 Italian First semester AGRI-04/C
Precision Crop Protection 6 60 Italian Second semester AGRI-05/B
First semester
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Environmental Impact of Agro-Food Production Systems 4 40 Italian AGRI-04/B AGRI-09/C
International Cooperation and Crop-Livestock Systems 6 56 English AGRI-09/B
Second semester
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Agro-robotics 6 48 Italian AGRI-04/B INFO-01/A
Animal Reproduction and Herd Health 4 40 Italian MVET-01/A
Integrated Weed Management Systems 4 48 Italian AGRI-02/A
Introduzione all'uso dei gis 1 0 Italian CEAR-04/A
Multimedia Communication Laboratory in Agriculture 4 48 Italian AGRI-03/A AGRI-09/C
Ree Rumen - Precision Feeding for the Environment: Rumen, Methane, and Nutrition 3 44 Italian AGRI-09/C
Ree Smartcow - Precision Dairy Farming 3 44 Italian AGRI-09/C
Study plan rules
- The Study Plan includes 9 credits (CFU) of the student's free choice, to be allocated to a free choice course selected from the courses offered for the master's degree program, including those in the chosen major, or from other degree programs offered by the Faculty and the University, as well as to other credit-earning educational activities. Students are encouraged to consult the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences website to learn about the course offerings and verify the actual availability of courses.
Eligible educational activities, generally worth up to a maximum of 5 credits, include participation in seminars, conferences, refresher courses, or other activities organized by the University or another organization, provided they are consistent with the study program. Credit recognition for these activities must be agreed upon in advance with the student's supervisor.
These activities also include the "Introduction to the Use of GIS" laboratory (1 credit) and the REE (Research-Enriched Education) laboratories (3 credits), which the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences activates annually. The REE laboratories aim to apply innovative approaches based on the integration of teaching and research and will be activated subject to a minimum number of enrollments established by the degree program's Teaching Committee. These laboratories involve an average of six days of practical exercises and applied work in the laboratory or in the field (e.g., on UNIMI experimental educational farms) under the supervision of teaching and non-teaching staff, with brief methodological introductions to the planned activities. The knowledge bases to which the REE laboratories refer are part of the syllabi of courses that students have already completed or will take in the future. See also the section Course Structure - Presentation of the Study Plan.
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Environmental Impact of Agro-Food Production Systems 4 40 Italian First semester AGRI-04/B AGRI-09/C
International Cooperation and Crop-Livestock Systems 6 56 English First semester AGRI-09/B
Agro-robotics 6 48 Italian Second semester AGRI-04/B INFO-01/A
Animal Reproduction and Herd Health 4 40 Italian Second semester MVET-01/A
Integrated Weed Management Systems 4 48 Italian Second semester AGRI-02/A
Introduzione all'uso dei gis 1 0 Italian Second semester CEAR-04/A
Multimedia Communication Laboratory in Agriculture 4 48 Italian Second semester AGRI-03/A AGRI-09/C
Ree Rumen - Precision Feeding for the Environment: Rumen, Methane, and Nutrition 3 44 Italian Second semester AGRI-09/C
Ree Smartcow - Precision Dairy Farming 3 44 Italian Second semester AGRI-09/C
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Quality Assurance Delegate
Contacts

For students enrolled in Bachelor's, Master's and single-cycle degree programmes, tuition fees are to be paid in two instalments:

  • the amount of the first instalment is the same for all students and is due upon enrolment
  • the amount of the second instalment varies according to each student's ISEE University value and the degree programme in which they are enrolled
  • for international students with income and assets abroad, the second instalment varies according to their country of origin.

Education incentive programmes and other benefits

The University offers scholarships, cafeterias, subsidised accommodation and other forms of financial support to students meeting specific economic and merit requirements.

More information