LB0128, Tools for future agricultural and horticultural production, 15.0 Hp
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Syllabus

Level

First cycle (G2F)

Main field of study

Agricultural Science, Horticultural Science

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

Swedish

Entry Requirements

Objectives

The course will provide a systems perspective on different production systems in agriculture, with knowledge of current issues around the use of decision support and technical solutions for e.g. precision agriculture, tillage and crop management. After completing the course, the student is supposed to be able to implement and evaluate relevant measures that aim to improve the sustainability of production systems, risk management and adaptability to planned and unforeseen changes.

After completing the course, the student should be able to

• compare different production systems by identifying decisive factors such as e.g. resource efficiency, climate impact and resilience to disturbances (e.g. weather variations),
• identify and account for the adaptability of different production systems to changed conditions, e.g. climate change, consumption patterns, world market prices and policy instruments,
• propose relevant use of precision technology based on biological and economic conditions,
• give examples of how prerequisites and implementation strategies within precision technology for cultivation can differ in different countries,
• propose measures to make production systems more sustainable,
• understand, review and interpret results from life cycle analysis (LCA), and compare LCA with other methods for sustainability evaluation of production systems (which include economic as well as environmental and social aspects),
• prepare risk and environmental analyses.

Content

Thematic content:

The course provides an overall picture of today's crop production systems as well as their development opportunities, risks and threats they face. The course deals with the practical application and integration of precision technology in modern crop cultivation, including underlying theories and knowledge requirements. This includes the transformation and visualization of data that supports decision making and implementation through data analysis.

Also included is an introduction to life cycle assessment (LCA) with definition of purpose, system boundaries and functional unit, as well as comparison with other methods for sustainability evaluation and discussions on application and interpretation of results from LCA and other sustainability analyses.

Current problems with relevance for sustainable development are discussed and described from a systems perspective that includes economic, environmental and social dimensions. Different solutions are discussed and how different production systems and their sustainability can be affected by different factors.

The course covers how agriculture is affected by national and EU agricultural policy, global events and trade, world market prices, climate change, etc.

Implementation

The course uses different teaching methods to promote the students learning and discussions through: literature studies, lectures, exercises, study visits, project work, seminars/presentations.

The course focuses on following general competencies: critical thinking, problem solving, digital competence, use of technology, oral and written communication.

The following components are compulsory: Collaboration with the surrounding community takes place through study visits and guest lecturer’s active in the area.

Examination Formats and Requirements for Passing the Course

The course is examined through submitted tasks and project work as well as seminars/presentations. For an approved course, you must: Passed exercises, Approved written and oral presentation of project work.

Responsible Department/Equivalent

Department of Biosystems and Technology

Supplementary information

Included in program

• Agriculture and Rural Management (BSc)
• Syllabus for Horticultural Management – Gardening and Horticultural Production (BSc)
• Horticultural Management - Gardening and Horticultural Production, Bachelor's Programme

Module set

Title	Credits	Code
Precision agriculture	4.0	0501
Risk assessment	4.0	0502
Sustainable assessment of production systems	7.0	0503