Module Identifier RD20420  
Module Title FOOD, FARMING AND THE ENVIRONMENT  
Academic Year 2005/2006  
Co-ordinator Dr Graham P Harris  
Semester Semester 1  
Other staff Dr John M Warren  
Course delivery Lecture   20 x 2 hour lectures  
  Other   Debate  
  Practical   3 x 4 hour visits  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam2 Hours Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5  50%
Semester Assessment Assignment Outcomes assessed: 2, 3, 4  50%
Supplementary Assessment Candidates will be required to re-take the element(s) of assessment that resulted in failure of the module. 

Learning outcomes

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

Outcome 1
Describe the ecological process that occur within agricultural systems.
Performance criteria
a. The concept of competition is described.
b. Diversity and sustainability relationships are identified.
c. The concept of maximum sustainable yield is explained.
d. The effects of inputs on the non-food components of the system are appreciated.
Ranges
Competition- within and between species, arable systems.   
Diversity - grassland, monocultures (arable), multi-cropping.
Maximum sustainable yields- fishing, farming systems
Effects of inputs - fertilisers, pesticides, irrigation.

Outcome 2
Discuss the pressures on the food supply industry.
Performance criteria
a. The current UK food supply industry and historical changes are described.
b. The key issues of public concern in the food chain and how these are influenced by media and scientific understanding are recognized.
c. The future consumer and population demands on the food supply industry are identified.
Ranges
UK food industry - stratified nature, key roles, control of system, pre- and post 1940s, CAP, WTO.   
Key issues - biotechnological advances, GMOs, breeding, input efficiency, factory farming, food poisoning outbreaks, BSE, pesticide residues (food, soil, water).
Future concerns - animal welfare, food and human health, sourcing food, quality assurance, food miles, population increase, type of diet.

Outcome 3
Identify the environmental impacts due to agricultural intensification
Performance criteria
a. Types and effects of environmental impacts are described.
Ranges
Types of impacts - fertilizers, pesticides, soil erosion, monocultures, habitat fragmentation, specialization of production systems, over-exploitation.

Outcome 4
Appraise the impacts of food policy and globalisation of food markets.
Performance criteria
a. Effects of food policy at different levels are analysed.
b. Impacts of globalisation of trade and markets are appreciated
Ranges
Food policy - post 1940s Uk policy, CAP, CAP reform, WTO/GATT
Impacts of globalisation - homogenization of production systems, development issues in developing nations.

Outcome 5
Discuss the concept of sustainability in food production
Performance criteria
a.   Sustainable use of resources are recognized
b.   Appropriate objectives for sustainable use are identified.   
Ranges
Sustainable use of resources - soil, water, energy, nutrients, biodiversity.
Appropriate objectives - criteria, indicators, relative sustainability, comparative performance of systems.

Aims

The module describes the scientific knowledge required to understand the applied ecological aspects that constitutes agricultural production systems. This module will provide the student with an awareness of the impact of agriculture and food supply systems on the environment. The module is designed to highlight issues in the human food chain including the globalisation of food markets, the homogenisation of production systems, sustainability, environmental impacts of agricultural and aquacultural intensification, agricultural policy development, public concerns with food production and health, animal welfare, and future consumer and population demands on the food production industry.

   The aims of this module are to:

1. Explain the ecological processes occurring in agricultural systems.
2. Describe the UK food supply industry and key issues of public concern in the food chain.
3. Identify the environmental impacts due to agricultural intensification.
4. Develop an appreciation of food policy and globalisation issues.
5. Develop an understanding of sustainability in food production.

Module Skills

Communication Read in different contexts and for different purposes Write for different purposes and audiences  
Information Technology Find information on the Internet Access information via an on-line library system.  

Reading Lists

Books
Tansey, G and D'Silva (1999) The meat business: devouring a hungry planet Earthscan
Conway GR & Pretty JN (1991) Unwelcome Harvest: agriculture and pollution
FAO (2001) The state of food and agriculture Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
Gliessman, S R (2000) Field and laboratory investigations in agroecology
Jackson, L E (1997) Ecology in agriculture
Pimbert, M (1999) Sustaining the multiple functions of agricultural diversity. Gatekeeper Series No 88 International Institute for Environment and Development
Rolling N G and Wagemakers M A E (1998) Facilitating sustainable agriculture Cambridge University Press
Open University (2000) A globalising world? Culture, economics, politics Routledge 041522294
World Bank (2003) Sustainable development in a dynamic world: Transforming Institutions, Growth and Quality of Life The World Bank 0821351508
Carson, R (1962) Silent Spring Penguin 140022686
Collins, W W and Qualset, C O (1999) Biodiversity in agroecosystems CRC Press 1566702909
Dodds, F (editor) (1991) Earth Summit 2002: a New Deal Earthscan 1853837121
McNeeley, J A and Scherr, S J (2003) Ecoagriculture: Strategies for feeding the world and saving wild biodiversity Island Press 1559636459
Meffe, G K et al (2002) Ecosystem management: adaptive, community-based conservation Island Press 1559638249

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5