Print Syllabus

Syllabus

MX0146 Sustainable food production - challenges and cropping system solutions, 7.5 Credits

Hållbar livsmedelsproduktion – utmaningar och odlingssystemlösningar

Subjects

Environmental Science Agricultural Science Environmental science Agricultural science

Education cycle

Bachelor’s level

Modules

Title	Credits	Code
Exercises	4.5	0102
Project	3.0	0103

Advanced study in the main field

First cycle, has only upper-secondary level entry requirements
Bachelor’s level (G1N)

Grading scale

Language

English

Prior knowledge

Basic entry requirements.

Objectives

The course aims to provide students with an overview of how food crops are produced, the major challenges to sustainability associated with agriculture and solutions for increasing sustainability through cropping systems. Critical analysis of the problems and solutions will be encouraged as well as reflection on our personal impact on agricultural sustainability as consumers of food products.

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• Describe cropping systems used to cultivate the most important food crops

• Identify major challenges to achieving agricultural sustainability and suggest cropping systems-based solutions

• Critically discuss and compare different sustainable agriculture approaches, including their strengths, weaknesses and societal impact

• Reflect on their own impact on agricultural sustainability as a consumers and citizens

Content

The course consists of lectures, seminars and workshops, as well as group project work. Teaching will be provided by scientists who are experts in cropping systems and sustainable agriculture, and complemented by other stakeholders with interests in sustainable agriculture.

Seminars will allow interactive discussions on the lectures and related literature where debate of the key issues will be encouraged. Workshops will be used to share and create knowledge related to assignments and project work, exchange experience and opinions and assess our own personal impact on sustainable food production as consumers and citizens.

The course begins with an overview of the world’s major food crops and how they are produced. Then the major challenges to agricultural sustainability are presented. Focus is on environmental sustainability but economic and social sustainability will be discussed. Using a cases approach, several food production scenarios will be assessed for their sustainability problems and solutions based on scientific research into cropping systems will be presented. These solutions will be critically discussed and analysed. Finally, some wider global issues in agricultural sustainability will be presented and debated.

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

Passing grades on assigments and project work. The course contains compulsory elements.

• 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 examination of a degree project (independent project), the examiner may also allow the 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

The study pace is 25% over a semester, with the predominant part of the course time in the evening.

Responsible department

Department of Crop Production Ecology