Agroecology and Sustainability of Food Production Systems
Course description
Through working with case studies in practice this course facilitates students to get familiar with all aspects of farm systems and livelihoods. The aim is to well understand the interdependency as well as specific aspects of productivity and sustainability, crops and livestock, social, economic and institutional dimensions of small scale farming systems in a local and global perspective. By working with small holder cases from different countries and different ecological settings, the student will be exposed to different kind of agricultural systems that adapt to very different situations, socio-economically as well as ecologically.
Entry Requirements
\- natural sciences
\- social sciences
\- humanities
\- technology
\- food and meal science
and
English 6 or equivalent.
Course facts
LB0131, Agroecology and Sustainability of Food Production Systems, 15.0 Hp
Print syllabus
Syllabus
Finalized by: PN-LT - ansvarig ledamot i arbetsgrupp landskap Alnarp (AGLA), 2023-11-15
Valid from : Autumn semester 2024 (2024-09-02)
Level
Second cycle (A1N)
Main field of study
Agricultural Science, Biology
Biology Area
Other biology courses
Grading Scale
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.
Course language
English
Entry Requirements
\- natural sciences
\- social sciences
\- humanities
\- technology
\- food and meal science
and
English 6 or equivalent.
Objectives
The aim is to provide applied and holistic understanding of agricultural production systems; how components and processes in production systems interact with each other and their surroundings.
On completion of the course, students will be able to:
- evaluate the agroecosystems in relation to the physical landscape and relating its impact on different geographical levels
- explain and discuss different agroecological perspectives on the balance and interaction between crop and livestock production
- describe and explain how farming interacts with the diverse environmental, social, economic and institutional dimensions of sustainable development in agriculture and food systems
- identify, evaluate and propose solutions to problems relevant to the individual production system, i.e. a farm.
Content
The course introduces students to agroecological principles and perspectives on production systems via case studies, lectures, scientific literature, student-led seminars, study visits and student assignments performed individually and in groups. Work with farm cases is an important pedagogic component. Students will be trained in how to describe and explain the interactions between farming practices and the social-ecological conditions that influence the sustainability of agricultural production in a holistic food system context.
The course explores the roles of ecological principles and processes such as competition, diversity, facilitation, nutrient cycling and trophic interactions for the functioning and resource use efficiency of production systems. Students will use agroecological concepts and tools to investigate how production components such as crops, animals, soil, technological equipment, infrastructural settings, economic and social settings, cultural norms and other formal or informal institutions interact and influence decision-making and production conditions in the studied systems. Students will also be introduced to different frameworks and methods to evaluate the sustainability of agricultural production systems.
The course will deal with fundamental agronomic production issues in agroecological contexts, with focus on ecosystem services related to crop production, soil processes such as soil fertility building, nutrient cycles and sustainable pest management. Design of diverse and multifunctional systems will be discussed in terms of environmental, economic and social sustainability.
Scheduled seminars, study visits and presentations are compulsory.
The course focuses on the following generic competencies:
critical thinking, scientific methods, oral communication, written communication and teamwork.
Examination Formats and Requirements for Passing the Course
To obtain the course credits, a pass in the written examination and assignment work, plus approved participation in compulsory course components will be required.
Responsible Department/Equivalent
Department of Biosystems and Technology
Supplementary information
Included in program
- Food and Landscape - Master’s programme
Module set
| Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Farm sustainability assessment | 5.0 | 0100 |
| Agroecological perspectives | 2.5 | 0200 |
| Individual assignment | 7.5 | 0300 |
The Course Replaces
LB0098, LB0109
Other Information
The course uses concepts and skills that are taught and trained in the course Agroecology Basics. It is therefore recommended, although not a formal prerequisite, that students take Agroecology Basics prior to this course.
The course is given in parallel with a corresponding course in Agroecology – Master’s Programme.The course is read together with LB0109 Agroecology and Sustainability of Production Systems.