Sustainable Production Systems in a Global Perspective
Lectures take up environmental, economic and social issues of agricultural production systems and give you insights in impacts of such systems. You will learn about qualitative systems analysis methods and train yourself in Systems Thinking.
The course includes several individual and group tasks that will guide you from a system´s perspective to a detailed focus on production steps. Some tasks will give you and your study mates the opportunity to explore production systems of your own choice.
You will describe and analyse production systems and compare and evaluate the sustainability of these systems. This will train your skills in presentation, make you familiar with relevant terms and encourage you to develop critical thinking. After the course, you will be able to identify and weigh environmental, social and economic impacts, structure the assessment of production system and adjust your argumentation based on your critical analysis of information, which we believe will be required of you in your profession.
Information from the course leader
Dear students!
A warm welcome to this course on Sustainable production systems!
I am looking forward to meet you and hope for interesting and challenging discussions!
This year, the course will take place at the Campus of Alnarp again. When possible, technically, I want to offer to participate via link (zoom) as well, but more as an exception in case if you may have e.g. symptoms. I will not be able to book an advanced video conference system (since there are only few such systems at Alnarp), but rather plan to use my laptop with a conference speaker/microphone and a webcam. Participation may be more difficult when sitting elsewhere. In general, I would like to encourage you to be present for better dicsussions!
Hope to see you in Jnauary 2022!
Best regards!
Thomas
Course evaluation
The course evaluation is now closed
BI1396-30143 - Course evaluation report
Once the evaluation is closed, the course coordinator and student representative have 1 month to draft their comments. The comments will be published in the evaluation report.
Additional course evaluations for BI1396
Academic year 2024/2025
Sustainable Production Systems in a Global Perspective (BI1396-30009)
2025-01-20 - 2025-03-24
Academic year 2023/2024
Sustainable Production Systems in a Global Perspective (BI1396-30226)
2024-01-15 - 2024-03-19
Academic year 2022/2023
Sustainable Production Systems in a Global Perspective (BI1396-30270)
2023-01-16 - 2023-03-21
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
BI1396 Sustainable Production Systems in a Global Perspective, 15.0 Credits
Hållbara produktionssystem i ett globalt perspektivSubjects
Agricultural Science Biology Biology Agricultural scienceEducation cycle
Bachelor’s levelModules
| Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Comparing regions - group work | 2.0 | 0102 |
| Reading seminar Living Planet - individual work | 1.0 | 0103 |
| Reading seminar Planetary boundaries - individual | 1.0 | 0104 |
| Production system - group work | 2.0 | 0105 |
| E-case - group work | 3.0 | 0106 |
| PhD student presentation day | 1.0 | 0107 |
| Individual essay | 5.0 | 0108 |
Advanced study in the main field
First cycle, has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirementsBachelor’s level (G2F)
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.
Language
EnglishPrior knowledge
Qualifications equivalent to 60 hp in Agricultural Science, Horticultural science or Biology.Objectives
The course aims to educate and prepare students to work with sustainable development of production systems and to strengthen students’ competence in systems thinking, critical thinking, design and evaluation of future scenarios and decision-making in consultation with others.
After completing the course, the student should be able to:
• describe conditions for food production and bioenergy in different countries.
• describe the current situation for food production and bioenergy in different countries
• evaluate how landscapes and urban environments affect, enable and support production on both a large and small scale globally
• explain and reason about sustainability in production systems and the supply of food and bioenergy
• compare and evaluate different countries’ conditions and competitiveness for a bio-based economy
• assess the international market for various products from the agricultural and horticultural sector.
Content
The course deals with and discusses biological / ecological, environmental, climatic, technical, economic, political and social conditions for globally sustainable (social, ecological, economic) food production and bioenergy. Entrepreneurship and trade in goods and services are also covered.
The course includes:
• Biological, technical and economic conditions for agricultural production in different parts of the world
• Most important characteristic factors in production systems in different parts of the world
• Review of the current situation for agriculture and farmers in different parts of the world
• Global climate and environmental effects, e.g. water management, greenhouse gases and erosion
• International agricultural and horticultural policy and trade
• Food consumption in different countries from a sustainability perspective
The course consists of lectures / discussions, case studies in groups and project work. The course introduction, the introduction and presentation of group and individual project work, as well as reading seminars, the research presentation day and any excursions are compulsory elements.
Grading form
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.Formats and requirements for examination
Approved written and oral reporting of case studies and project assignments and participation in compulsory components.
If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Other information
The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Responsible department
Department of Biosystems and Technology
Further information
Grading criteria
Examination tasks, spring semester 2022
|
Exam. task |
Task name in grading criteria |
Task name in schedule and Canvas |
Learning outcomes |
Examination time (Course week) |
Examination form |
Grades |
|
1 |
Group task |
Comparing regions |
1, 2, 3 |
W 2 |
Presentation, written text (about 2 A4 pages), cross-reading report |
U/3 |
|
2 |
Reading seminar |
Reading seminar Planetary boundaries |
1, 4 |
W 4 |
Hand in 3 questions/comments, active participation during seminar |
U/3 |
|
3 |
Reading seminar |
Reading seminar Living Planet report |
1,4 |
W 5 |
Hand in 3 questions/comments, active participation during seminar |
U/3 |
|
4 |
Group task |
Comparing production systems |
1, 2, 4 |
W 4 |
Presentation, written text (about 2 A4 pages), cross-reading report |
U/3 |
|
5 |
Group case study
|
Group e-case |
1, 3, 4, 5 |
W 8 |
PPT-presentation, active participation at presentation |
U/3/4 |
|
6 |
PhD student presentation day |
Sustainable production from an international research perspective |
4, 5 |
W 5 |
Active participation in presentation discussions and giving feedback |
U/3 |
|
7 |
Individual essay |
Individual essay |
4, 5, 6 |
W 9 (Starting document W 3) |
Scientific essay |
U/3/4/5 |
You should also hand in cross-reading reports on:
(1) Comparing regions report (one cross-reading report per group)
(2) Comparing production systems hand-out (one cross-reading report per group)
To pass the course the student must participate in all compulsory activities:
- Course introduction
- Start-up of group work comparing regions
- Cross group presentation of comparing regions task
- Start-up of individual essay
- Start-up of group work comparing production systems
- Reading seminar Living Planet report
- PPT-presentation, comparing production systems
- Reading seminar Planet boundaries
- Oral e-case presentation
- Research presentation day
- Course evaluation
Advisory template for final course grade
|
Group case study grade |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Individual case study grade |
5 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
|
Final grade* |
5 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
*To get the final course grade 4 or 5:
- All tasks must have been handed in according to the time plan for each task (given in the schedule).
- The student must also have participated in all compulsory activities at the date when they were scheduled in the course schedule (except in cases where the student has a valid reason for not participating)
- For students who have missed a compulsory activity for a valid reason, the course examiner or course leader will decide upon a solution and a new date when the student must fulfil these requirements to get a grade 4 or 5.
- For students who have missed a compulsory activity for a non-valid reason, the general rule is that the student will have to participate in the activity the following year. In some cases it might be possible to find other solutions.
Litterature list
- A safe operating space for humanity Författare: Rockström [A safe operating space for humanity] (https://www.nature.com/articles/461472a) Kommentar: Available via Canvas
- Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet Författare: Steffen W. et al [Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet] (https://science.sciencemag.org/content/347/6223/1259855) Kommentar: Available via Canvas
- Debate: What good are planetary boundaries? Författare: Lalasz, B [Debate: What good are planetary boundaries?] (https://blog.nature.org/science/2013/03/25/debate-what-good-are-planetary-boundaries/) Kommentar: Available via Canvas
- Mixed crop-livestock systems: an economic and environmental-friendly way of farming? Författare: Ryschawy, J. et al [Mixed crop-livestock systems: an economic and environmental-friendly way of farming?] (https://doi.org/10.1017/s1751731112000675) Kommentar: Available via Canvas
- Energy and the food system Författare: Woods J. et al [Energy and the food system] (https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2010.0172) Kommentar: Available via Canvas
- Farm mechanization: a new challenge for agriculture in low and middle income countries of Europe and Central Asia. Regional review Författare: World Bank Kommentar: Available via Canvas
- Living Planet Report 2020. Bending the curve of biodiversity loss Författare: WWF [Living Planet Report 2020. Bending the curve of biodiversity loss] (https://wwwwwfse.cdn.triggerfish.cloud/uploads/2020/09/lpr20_full-report_pages.pdf) Kommentar: Available via Canvas
- Future Agriculture – five scenarios for 2050. Conditions for agriculture and land use Författare: Öborn, I. et al [Future Agriculture – five scenarios for 2050. Conditions for agriculture and land use] (https://www.slu.se/centrumbildningar-och-projekt/futurefood/publikationer/framtidens-lantbruk/five-scenarios-for-2050--conditions-for-agriculture-and-land-use/) Kommentar: Available via Canvas
- From uniformity to diversity, A paradigm shift from industrial agriculture to diversified agroecological systems Författare: FAO, International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) [From uniformity to diversity, A paradigm shift from industrial agriculture to diversified agroecological systems] (http://www.ipes-food.org/_img/upload/files/UniformityToDiversity_FULL.pdf) Kommentar: Available in Canvas
- Shifting diets. Toward a sustainable food future Författare: Lipinski et al. [Shifting diets. Toward a sustainable food future] (https://ebrary.ifpri.org/utils/getfile/collection/p15738coll2/id/130216/filename/130427.pdf) Kommentar: Available in Canvas
- The world of agricultural economics: an introduction Författare: Martiin, Carin [The world of agricultural economics: an introduction] (https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/slub-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1170349) Kommentar: Reading instructions:
Background knowledge: Chapters 1, 2, 10-12, 20 and 21
Mechanisation lectures: Chapters 3,5, 17, 18
Production chain assignment: Chapters 4, 13-16
Comparing regions assignment: Chapters 6-9
Farm e-case assignement: Chapters 17-19
Individual assignement: Chapter 19
- Guidelines for environmental quantification of nutrient flows and impact assessment in livestock supply chains Författare: FAO Kommentar: Available in Canvas
- Sustainability. A biological perspective Författare: Morse, Stephen [Sustainability. A biological perspective] (http://site.ebrary.com/lib/slub/docDetail.action?docID=10399273) Kommentar: Reading instructions: Read chapter 5.
- The story of phosphorus: Global food security and food for thought Författare: Cordell, D., Drangert, J.-O. and White, S. [The story of phosphorus: Global food security and food for thought] (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2008.10.009)1) SAFA Guidelines, Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture systems. Version3.0 Författare: FAO [SAFA Guidelines, Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture systems. Version3.0] (https://www.fao.org/family-farming/detail/en/c/284657/)1) Sustainability pathways, 12 issue fact sheets Författare: FAO [Sustainability pathways, 12 issue fact sheets] (<http://www.fao.org/nr/sustainability/fact-sheets/en/ >)1) High-level expert forum – how to feed the world in 2050 Författare: FAO Kommentar: Available via Canvas
- Climate-Smart” Agriculture. Policies, Practices and Financing for Food Security, Adaptation and Mitigation Författare: FAO Kommentar: Available via Canvas
- Solutions for a cultivated planet Författare: Foley, J.A. et al [Solutions for a cultivated planet] (https://www.nature.com/articles/nature10452)