Print Syllabus

Syllabus

MV0225 Sustainable agriculture through smart farming, 5.0 Credits

Hållbart lantbruk genom smart odling

Subjects

Soil Science Agricultural Science Soil science Agricultural science

Education cycle

Master’s level

Advanced study in the main field

A1N

Grading scale

Language

English

Prior knowledge

Equivalent to 120 ECTS including, in total, 60 ECTS in one or more of the subjects: biology, agricultural science, animal science, soil science, geoscience, environmental science, technology, geographical information system, statistics.

Knowledge equivalent to English 6.

Objectives

The course provides transdisciplinary skills in several topics related to precision agriculture and livestock farming including agriculture science, robotics, sensor technology and data analysis and the role of these technologies to achieve sustainable and climate smart agriculture. The course is organised together with six other European partners within an Erasmus+ project, with the overall objective to give the students an opportunity to develop European networks including academia as well as companies and organisations that are active in the field of precision agriculture.

After completed course, the student should be able to:

• discuss the basic principles of precision agriculture and livestock farming, and evaluate the need for site specific applications

• discuss the basic principles of precision livestock farming and evaluate solutions for a given form of production

• give examples of how growing conditions and implementation of precision agriculture and precision livestock farming can vary within Europe

• describe the principles behind the most common soil and crop sensors and how they can be applied in precision agriculture

• describe the principles behind the most common sensors used in precision livestock farming, and how they can be implemented

• describe the principles behind remote sensing and how the technique can be applied in precision agriculture

• describe the principles for producing interpolated maps that are useful for site specific applications

• give examples of automation in agriculture and how techniques such as GNSS and machine vision can be used in agriculture machinery

• give examples of how robotics can be used in agriculture and discuss challenges and possibilities with the technique

• give examples of sensors and other technical solutions for animal surveillance and management

• combine skills within agronomy and technology to evaluate the need for, and give advice about, the use of technology to reduce the negative environmental and climatic impact of agricultural practises.

Content

The course is given partly at distance through an on-line e-learning part and a project work. The distance parts are conducted at part-time during the spring. The same course and with the same content is given at six more European universities. All students and teachers gather for two weeks with lectures and exercises in one of the countries in June.

The course includes the following items:

• On-line e-learning on basics in precision agriculture and livestock farming, including basics in related technologies

• Preparatory project work, one group per

• Two weeks with face-to-face intensive lectures with students and teachers from all seven participating universities

Central subjects treated in the course include:

• the use of technologies in crop production and animal husbandry, grouped in the domains of precision agriculture and precision livestock farming respectively;

• the role of these technologies in the mitigation and the adaptation of crop and livestock farming practices to tackle the climate change;

• and the development of a more sustainable agriculture i.e. an economically viable, eco-friendly and socially acceptable agriculture.

Grading form

The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Formats and requirements for examination

Requirements for passed course include full filled online e-learning part, approved reporting of exercises and the preparatory project work. In addition participation is required in the following obligatory parts:

• Two weeks with face-to-face intensive lectures with students and teachers from all seven universities present.

• If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.

• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.

• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.

• For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Other information

• The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.

• If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Additional information

Depending on the year, the two weeks face-to-face intensive lectures will take place in different countries: 2021 in Portugal, 2022 in Finland and 2023 in Sweden. Travel and accommodation during the two intensive weeks abroad will be covered by the ERASMUS+ project.

Responsible department

Department of Soil and Environment