Module Information

Module Identifier
RS31110
Module Title
ORGANIC FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND POLICY
Academic Year
2009/2010
Co-ordinator
Dr Susanne Padel
Semester
Intended for use in future years
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Lecture 1 x 2 hour lecture per week
Practical 2 x 3 hour practicals during semester
Other 2 day study tour
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Exam 2 Hours   WRITTEN EXAMINATION  100%
Supplementary Exam 2 Hours   WRITTEN EXAMINATION  100%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Identify the regulations relating to production, processing and trade in organic products within the European Union
and major trading partners and evaluate the implementation of these regulations in individual countries, the
relation to objectives of organic agriculture and their impact on sector development.

2. Describe the policy-environment for organic agriculture in Europe, including production and rural development
based support schemes, and assess their influence on the current and potential future adoption of organic
agriculture

3. Identify the factors influencing the financial performance of organic crop and livestock enterprises and assess
their combined impact on the performance of whole farm systems, both during conversion and once fully
established.

Brief description

The module aims to enable students to understand and evaluate the business organisation and performance of organic farming systems, in the context of the regulatory, policy and market environment for organic agriculture as well as broader sustainability and ethical considerations, with a focus on the constraints and opportunities faced by farmers/managers in converting, developing and optimising their businesses.

Content

  • Organic Sector development, regulation, certification
  • Policy support for organic farms in the context of CAP Pillar 1 and 2,
  • Financial performance of organic farms and benchmarking
  • Systems thinking applied to Farm Management
  • Whole farm planning and evaluation of organic and converting farms including evaluation of wider objectives
    • related to principles of organic agriculture

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number In financial performance data and business planning
Communication Active participation in the lectures will be encouraged through reading material
Information Technology Word processing and internet usage for personal study spreadsheets and specialist farm planning software for practicals
Personal Development and Career planning Industry contacts will be made during study tour and practical field visits.
Problem solving This will be part of the business planning practical
Team work Study tour and conference provide for significant opportunities for group interaction and discussion

Reading List

General Text
Organic farming in Europe: Economics and Policy Series (Vols 1 - 10) University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart Primo search (2001) Organic food and farming: towards partnership and action in Europe. Conference proceedings, May 2001 http://www.fvm.dk/konferencer/organic food farming/index.htm Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Lampkin, N H and Padel, S (editors) (2006) The economics of organic farming - an international perspective CAB International Primo search Soffe, R J (editor) (2004) Agricultural notebook Organic Farming. Chapter by N H Lampkin Blackwell Science Primo search

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6