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BI1192

Sustainable Production Systems in a Global Perspective

This course is directed at you who wants to explore agricultural production systems and their sustainability. Lectures in the course help building the theoretical background and inspire you for the work tasks that replace a final exam. The course is part of study programs of Tring Odling and Lantmästare as well as given as an independent course.



Lectures take up environmental, economic and social issues of agricultural production systems and give you insights in impacts of such systems. You will learn about qualitative systems analysis methods and train yourself in Systems Thinking.

The course includes several individual and group tasks that will guide you from a system´s perspective to a detailed focus on production steps. Some tasks will give you and your study mates the opportunity to explore production systems of your own choice.

You will describe and analyse production systems and compare and evaluate the sustainability of these systems. This will train your skills in presentation, make you familiar with relevant terms and encourage you to develop critical thinking. After the course, you will be able to identify and weigh environmental, social and economic impacts, structure the assessment of production system and adjust your argumentation based on your critical analysis of information, which we believe will be required of you in your profession.

Information from the course leader

Dear students!

Welcome to the VT2021 course on Sustainable Production Systems in a Global Perspective!

Please check the Canvas course page for more information, e.g. on th egrading criteria. The schedule will be updated here.

The course will be given as online course this year. The course leader will send you the zoom links and pass codes seperately.

Course evaluation

The course evaluation is now closed

BI1192-30264 - Course evaluation report

Once the evaluation is closed, the course coordinator and student representative have 1 month to draft their comments. The comments will be published in the evaluation report.

Additional course evaluations for BI1192

Academic year 2019/2020

Sustainable Production Systems in a Global Perspective (BI1192-30064)

2020-01-20 - 2020-03-24

Academic year 2018/2019

Sustainable Production Systems in a Global Perspective (BI1192-30066)

2019-01-21 - 2019-03-25

Academic year 2017/2018

Sustainable Production Systems in a Global Perspective (BI1192-30077)

2018-01-15 - 2018-03-25

Academic year 2016/2017

Sustainable Production Systems in a Global Perspective (BI1192-30093)

2017-01-16 - 2017-03-26

Academic year 2015/2016

Sustainable Production Systems in a Global Perspective (BI1192-30004)

2016-01-18 - 2016-03-27

Academic year 2014/2015

Sustainable Production Systems in a Global Perspective (BI1192-30214)

2015-01-19 - 2015-03-29

Academic year 2013/2014

Sustainable Production Systems in a Global Perspective (BI1192-30164)

2014-01-20 - 2014-03-30

Academic year 2012/2013

Sustainable Production Systems in a Global Perspective (BI1192-30179)

2013-01-21 - 2013-03-31

Syllabus and other information

Grading criteria

Examination tasks, spring semester 2021

Exam. task

Task name in grading criteria

Task name in schedule and Canvas

Learning outcomes

Examination time

(Course week)

Examination form

Grades

1

Group task

Comparing regions

1, 2, 3

W 2

Presentation, written text (about 2 A4 pages), cross-reading report

U/3

2

Reading seminar
(individual)

Reading seminar Living Planet Report

1, 4

W 2-3

Hand in 3 questions/comments, active participation during seminar

U/3

3

Reading seminar
(individual)

Reading seminar Planet boundaries

1,4

W 4

Hand in 3 questions/comments, active participation during seminar

U/3

4

Group task

Comparing production systems

1, 2, 4

W 4

Presentation, written text (about 2 A4 pages), cross-reading report

U/3

5

Group case study

Group e-case

1, 3, 4, 5

W 7

PPT-presentation, active participation at presentation

U/3/4

6

PhD student presentation day

Sustainable production from an international research perspective

4, 5

W 5

Active participation in presentation discussions and giving feedback

U/3

7

Individual essay

Individual essay

4, 5, 6

W 9

(Starting document

W 3)

Scientific essay

U/3/4/5

You should also hand in cross-reading reports on:

(1) Comparing regions report (one cross-reading report per group)
(2) Comparing production systems hand-out (one cross-reading report per group)

Blooms
taxonomy
level

2-4

2

2

4-6

6

6

Learning outcomes

Analyse and describe the scope and conditions for the production of food, feed, materials and energy in different countries

Describe the current situation for production of food, feed, materials and energy in different countries

Describe and discuss sustainability in production systems and the supply of food, feed, materials and energy

Compare and evaluate the conditions and competitive ability of different production systems

Evaluate how landscape and urban environments affect, permit and promote production of food, feed, materials and energy on both large and small scale globally

Evaluate the international market for food, feed, materials and energy products from the agricultural and horticultural sector

Course items

•Individual essay

•Reading seminars

•Group e-case study

•task comparing regions

•Group task comparing production systems

•Individual essay

•Group task comparing regions

•Group task comparing production systems

•Individual essay

•Reading seminars

•Group e-case study

•PhD presentation day

•Individual essay

•Group e-case study

•PhD presentation day

•Individual essay

•Group e-case study

•Individual essay

Quality criteria
grade 5

The work shows excellent performance in
* applying the sustainability dimensions in descriptions of production and
* discussing food, feed, material and energy security

The work shows excellent performance in describing and evaluating basic production factors, market availability and trade systems

The work shows excellent performance in analysing, describing and discussing how a specific site is part of a larger context and the complexity of factor interaction

The individual essay shows excellent performance in detailed explanation, reflection and discussion on interactions between market and production

Quality criteria
grade 4

The work shows

•very good performance in analysis and sound judgement, and

•good ability to reflect and discuss the important production systems characteristics

The work shows very good performance in

•applying the sustainability dimensions in descriptions of production and

•discussing food, feed, material and energy security

The work shows very good performance in describing and evaluating basic production factors, market availability and trade systems

The work shows very good performance in analysing, describing and discussing how a specific site is part of a larger context and the complexity of factor interaction

The individual essay shows very good performance in detailed explanation, reflection and discussion on interactions between market and production

Quality criteria
grade 3

The work shows

•satisfactory performance in analysis and sound judgement, and

•satisfactory ability to discuss the important production systems characteristics

The work shows satisfactory performance in

•identifying production factors in countries and regions

•collecting and analysing data

•presenting results in a clear and logical way

The work shows satisfactory performance in

•applying the sustainability dimensions in descriptions of production and

•discussing food, feed, material and energy security

The work shows satisfactory performance in describing and evaluating basic production factors, market availability and trade systems

The work shows very good performance in analysing, describing and discussing how a specific site is part of a larger context and the complexity of factor interaction

The individual essay shows satisfactory performance in detailed explanation, reflection and discussion on interactions between market and production

To pass the course the student must participate in all compulsory activities:

- Course introduction

- Start-up of group work comparing regions

- Cross group presentation of comparing regions task

- Start-up of individual essay

- Start-up of group work comparing production systems

- Reading seminar Living Planet report

- PPT-presentation, comparing production systems

- Reading seminar Planet boundaries

- Oral e-case presentation

- Research presentation day

- Course evaluation

Advisory template for final course grade

Group case study grade

4

4

4

3

3

3

Individual case study grade

5

4

3

5

4

3

Final grade*

5

4

4

4

4

3

*To get the final course grade 4 or 5:

  • All tasks must have been handed in according to the time plan for each task (given in the schedule).
  • The student must also have participated in all compulsory activities at the date when they were scheduled in the course schedule (except in cases where the student has a valid reason for not participating)
  • For students who have missed a compulsory activity for a valid reason, the course examiner or course leader will decide upon a solution and a new date when the student must fulfil these requirements to get a grade 4 or 5.
  • For students who have missed a compulsory activity for a non-valid reason, the general rule is that the student will have to participate in the activity the following year. In some cases it might be possible to find other solutions.

Litterature list

  1. The world of agricultural economics: an introduction Författare: Martiin, Carin [The world of agricultural economics: an introduction] (https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/slub-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1170349) Kommentar: Reading instructions: Background knowledge: Chapters 1, 2, 10-12, 20 and 21 Mechanisation lectures: Chapters 3,5, 17, 18 Production chain assignment: Chapters 4, 13-16 Comparing regions assignment: Chapters 6-9 Farm e-case assignement: Chapters 17-19 Individual assignement: Chapter 19
  2. Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet Författare: Steffen W. et al [Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet] (https://science.sciencemag.org/content/347/6223/1259855) Kommentar: Available via Canvas
  3. Debate: What good are planetary boundaries? Författare: Lalasz, B [Debate: What good are planetary boundaries?] (https://blog.nature.org/science/2013/03/25/debate-what-good-are-planetary-boundaries/) Kommentar: Available via Canvas
  4. Mixed crop-livestock systems: an economic and environmental-friendly way of farming? Författare: Ryschawy, J. et al [Mixed crop-livestock systems: an economic and environmental-friendly way of farming?] (https://doi.org/10.1017/s1751731112000675) Kommentar: Available via Canvas
  5. Energy and the food system Författare: Woods J. et al [Energy and the food system] (https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2010.0172) Kommentar: Available via Canvas
  6. Farm mechanization: a new challenge for agriculture in low and middle income countries of Europe and Central Asia. Regional review Författare: World Bank Kommentar: Available via Canvas
  7. Living Planet Report 2020. Bending the curve of biodiversity loss Författare: WWF [Living Planet Report 2020. Bending the curve of biodiversity loss] (https://wwwwwfse.cdn.triggerfish.cloud/uploads/2020/09/lpr20_full-report_pages.pdf) Kommentar: Available via Canvas
  8. Future Agriculture – five scenarios for 2050. Conditions for agriculture and land use Författare: Öborn, I. et al [Future Agriculture – five scenarios for 2050. Conditions for agriculture and land use] (https://www.slu.se/centrumbildningar-och-projekt/futurefood/publikationer/framtidens-lantbruk/five-scenarios-for-2050--conditions-for-agriculture-and-land-use/) Kommentar: Available via Canvas
  9. From uniformity to diversity, A paradigm shift from industrial agriculture to diversified agroecological systems Författare: FAO, International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) [From uniformity to diversity, A paradigm shift from industrial agriculture to diversified agroecological systems] (http://www.ipes-food.org/_img/upload/files/UniformityToDiversity_FULL.pdf) Kommentar: Available in Canvas
  10. Shifting diets. Toward a sustainable food future Författare: Lipinski et al. [Shifting diets. Toward a sustainable food future] (https://ebrary.ifpri.org/utils/getfile/collection/p15738coll2/id/130216/filename/130427.pdf) Kommentar: Available in Canvas
  11. Guidelines for environmental quantification of nutrient flows and impact assessment in livestock supply chains Författare: FAO Kommentar: Available in Canvas
  12. Sustainability. A biological perspective Författare: Morse, Stephen [Sustainability. A biological perspective] (http://site.ebrary.com/lib/slub/docDetail.action?docID=10399273)1) The story of phosphorus: Global food security and food for thought Författare: Cordell, D., Drangert, J.-O. and White, S. [The story of phosphorus: Global food security and food for thought] (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2008.10.009)1) SAFA Guidelines, Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture systems. Version3.0 Författare: FAO [SAFA Guidelines, Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture systems. Version3.0] (http://www.fao.org/nr/sustainability/sustainability-assessments-safa/en/)1) Sustainability pathways, 12 issue fact sheets Författare: FAO [Sustainability pathways, 12 issue fact sheets] (<http://www.fao.org/nr/sustainability/fact-sheets/en/ >)1) High-level expert forum – how to feed the world in 2050 Författare: FAO Kommentar: Available via Canvas
  13. Climate-Smart” Agriculture. Policies, Practices and Financing for Food Security, Adaptation and Mitigation Författare: FAO Kommentar: Available via Canvas
  14. Solutions for a cultivated planet Författare: Foley, J.A. et al [Solutions for a cultivated planet] (https://www.nature.com/articles/nature10452)1) A safe operating space for humanity Författare: Rockström [A safe operating space for humanity] (https://www.nature.com/articles/461472a) Kommentar: Available via Canvas

Course facts

The course is offered as an independent course: Yes Cycle: Bachelor’s level (G2F)
Subject: Agricultural Science Biology Biology Agricultural science
Course code: BI1192 Application code: SLU-30264 Location: Alnarp Distance course: No Language: English Pace: 100%