Course instructor James Samuel, of Waiheke Island, told the Otago Daily Times yesterday the polytechnic move was a sign food forests were becoming part of the mainstream.
''This is the leading edge. This is about to really explode, and it makes really good sense.''
Food forests contain a mix of plant species, grown organically, and Mr Samuel said one of the ways they differed from traditional agriculture was in their concentration on perennials, rather than annuals.
''The principle is more perennial plants stacked into multiple layers,'' Mr Samuel said.
''With that sort of principle, there is a lot of productivity you can have off a piece of land while drastically reducing dependence on fossil fuel inputs.''
The course will be led by Mr Samuel and by Jon Foote, of Dunedin.
Otago Polytechnic regional manager Jean Tilleyshort said its involvement was sparked by the interest generated by a new food forest started by members of the Hawea Flat community late last year.
Ms Tilleyshort said the course was being run through the polytechnic's centre for sustainable practice in Wanaka and those who took the 19-week course could achieve a level 5 certificate in sustainable practice.
''The people who do the programme will get a certificate in sustainable practice but they will be focusing on food forests.''
Co-ordinator of the Hawea Flat food forest Ben Elms said he expected part of the polytechnic course would incorporate work at the forest.
Mr Elms said the forest was still at ''ground zero'' and a scattering of fruit trees and shrubs was just beginning to become established. He believed with continued community support, the small food forest could spread across several hectares, providing food for the community.
The polytechnic course begins in February and will cater for 10 North Island and 10 South Island students, at a cost of $3500 per student.
