Module Identifier
RD20420
Module Title
FOOD, FARMING AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Academic Year
2008/2009
Co-ordinator
Dr Graham P Harris
Semester
Semester 1
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Other Debate, arranged by module co-ordinator during semester.
Practical 3 x 4 hour visits
Lecture 2 x 2 hour lectures per week
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Assignment  Outcomes assessed: 2, 3, 4  50%
Semester Exam 2 Hours   Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5  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.

Outcome 2
Discuss the pressures on the food supply industry.

Outcome 3
Identify the environmental impacts due to agricultural intensification

Outcome 4
Appraise the impacts of food policy and globalisation of food markets.

Outcome 5
Discuss the concept of sustainability in food production

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

Skills Type Skills details
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 List

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

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5