Module Information
Module Identifier
RD20420
Module Title
Food, Farming and the Environment
Academic Year
2013/2014
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Mutually Exclusive
Other Staff
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Practical | 3 x 3 hour visits during semester |
| Lecture | 2 x 2 hour lectures per week |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Report. Written in the style of a popular scientific magazine. | 50% |
| Semester Exam | 2 Hours | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module. | 50% |
| Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module. | 50% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
Outcome 1
Explain the ecological process that occur within food production.
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
Brief description
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.
Content
Population dynamics
Managing populations
How communities work
Multi-cropping and arable systems
Boundary habitats and habitat fragmentation
Impacts due to agricultural intensification ? direct/indirect
Agri-environment schemes
Food supply in the UK
Globalisation of food markets
Impact of policy on systems and the environment
Issues in the food chain food and human health, animal welfare, biotechnology,
biofuels
Sustainability criteria and sustainability assessment
Sustainable resource use in agriculture ? sustainable intensification.
Managing populations
How communities work
Multi-cropping and arable systems
Boundary habitats and habitat fragmentation
Impacts due to agricultural intensification ? direct/indirect
Agri-environment schemes
Food supply in the UK
Globalisation of food markets
Impact of policy on systems and the environment
Issues in the food chain food and human health, animal welfare, biotechnology,
biofuels
Sustainability criteria and sustainability assessment
Sustainable resource use in agriculture ? sustainable intensification.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Communication | Read in different contexts and for different purposes. Write for different purposes and audiences |
| Information Technology | Present information and data on a subject related to the module. Access information from the web. |
| Problem solving | dentify factors which might influence potential solutions. Evaluate advantages and disadvantages of potential solutions. |
| Research skills | Produce an academically appropriate media report. |
Reading List
General TextCarson, 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