Free CPD-accredited course uses coffee farming to reveal the invisible science behind crop collapse and ecosystem breakdown

The world's coffee supply is under threat. Climate change is shifting growing zones, intensifying drought, and disrupting the delicate soil ecosystems that crops depend on — and scientists increasingly point to microbiome collapse as a hidden driver of agricultural breakdown. Yet most people have never heard of a soil microbiome, let alone understood how to protect one.

Alison has launched a new CPD-accredited course, Environmental Microbiome Case Study: Climate & Ecosystem Health, which uses a practical coffee farming case study to demystify the microbial processes that govern agricultural resilience, ecosystem stability, and the long-term viability of our food systems. The course is free, CPD-accredited, and available globally.

The Climate Crisis You Can't See

A third of the world's topsoil is already degraded. Biodiversity loss is accelerating. And the microbial communities living in soil — invisible to the naked eye, but critical to plant health — are being disrupted by the same climate stressors threatening agriculture above ground. Understanding this hidden layer of ecosystem function is becoming one of the most pressing challenges in environmental science.

The course equips learners to understand how beneficial and harmful microbes shape plant performance, how climate stress propagates through agricultural systems, and how biodiversity loss undermines long-term ecosystem stability. Coffee farming serves as the lens: a globally significant crop already experiencing the consequences of climate disruption, and a vivid illustration of what happens when the invisible foundations of farming fail.

Why This Knowledge Matters Beyond the Farm

Mike Feerick, Founder and CEO of Alison, stated: "Coffee is one of the most widely consumed commodities on earth, and its survival depends on healthy soils that most people know nothing about. The microbiome crisis isn't just an agricultural problem — it's a climate problem, a food security problem, and ultimately a human problem. This course gives people the scientific literacy to understand what's at stake beneath their feet, and why protecting microbial ecosystems is as important as any other climate intervention."

The course is designed for students, agricultural practitioners, environmental professionals, researchers, and sustainability advocates, as well as anyone curious about the ecological forces shaping the future of food. learners can enrol through any desktop browser or via the Alison App on Android and iOS, with flexible study options and a free digital Certificate.

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About Alison

Alison is a global leader in free online learning and skills development. With over 50 million registered learners across 193 countries (as of October 2025), Alison empowers individuals, communities, and organisations to upskill quickly and effectively – at zero cost.

The Alison platform provides immediate access to over 6,000 free, CPD-accredited courses, covering essential areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Digital Marketing, Project Management, Business Operations, Healthcare and Sustainability. Courses are created by a mix of independent experts and global leaders, including IBM, Stanford and Microsoft.

For organisations, Alison offers a Free Learning Management System (LMS) that enables unlimited learners to access thousands of courses with no upfront cost. A premium version with advanced analytics and customisation is also available. Alison's offering includes a full suite of assessments and psychometric tools, including a Workplace Personality Assessment, Mental Health & Wellbeing Assessment, English Language Proficiency Test, as well as Numerical, Verbal, and Abstract Reasoning tests.

To further support career development, learners also gain access to a Career Guide, a Resumé Builder, and the ability to study offline through the Alison App. The platform is also expanding its reach with multilingual versions, starting with complete Spanish, French, and Hindi offerings — reaffirming its mission to make education accessible to anyone, anywhere.

Founded in 2007, Alison pioneered the concept of free, large-scale online learning and is recognised as the world’s first MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) platform. Today, its mission continues: to break down barriers to learning, helping people gain skills, build confidence, and improve their lives — no matter where they live or what they earn.

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