AU kursuskatalog arkiv

Analyse og management af agroøkosystemer på bedriftsniveau ( forår 2009 - 15 ECTS )

Rammer for udbud

• Uddannelsessprog: engelsk (eller dansk)
• Niveau: Graduate course, obligatory
• Semester/kvarter: 2nd semester / 1st and 2 nd quarter.
• Timer per uge: 4-8 lectures / exercises per week. Required programme: Participation in exercises and project-based group work. Field trips.
• Deltagerbegrænsning: 24.
• Undervisningssted: Århus
• Hovedområde: Det Jordbrugsvidenskabelige Fakultet
• Udbud ID: 11984

Formål

The aim of the course is to give you an in depth knowledge of the farm dynamics and how the impact on nature and environment can be influenced by the management and organisation of the farm. You will be able to use scientific methods to investigate and assess such issues. This includes a critical assessment of methods and tools used to give insight in and handle interaction and feed back processes between soil, plants and livestock in a farming system context.

Læringsmål

After completion of this course you are capable to

• Use and assess relevant methods, tools and models to analyse and evaluate specific forms of agricultural production and their impact on nature and environment
• Integrate different concerns and views in an overall assessment of the sustainability of farming systems
• Suggest solid ways by which a particular farm can comply with targets set for impact on nature and environment
• Co-operate in cross-disciplinary projects groups taking into account different views and expertise in an overall assessment.

Indhold

The main emphasis of the course is put on problem based project work. This includes; introduction to, use, and assessment of relevant tools in a specific context, a case /a farm.

Main areas included are:

• Mastering relevant models representing production, soil characteristics, pests and pesticides dynamics, nutrient cycling, emissions and biodiversity; and assessing their usefulness in different situations. Models considered include both models for research purposes and for environmental regulation
• Data mining from farms and assessment of their usefulness for different purposes
• Assessment of farm level indicators for resource use and environmental impact
• Putting forward and analysing different alternatives for farm management in relation to e.g. targets for environmental impact in relation to administrative demands or in relation to farmers preferences for farm development

Faglige forudsætninger

Bachelor degree in biology, geology, geography, agriculture or similar. Students not having a Bachelor s degree in agriculture are recommended to take one of the "Basic Theme Courses" from the Master s degree programme in AgroEnvironmental Management, i.e. the course "Nutrient Cycling and Management" and/or "Landscape Ecology and Biodiversity"; or at least take two of the courses of the course package "Agriculture and Environment" offered to undergraduate students of Biology and Agricultural Sciences at AU or equivalent.
Basic and practical knowledge on how to utilise GIS(Geographical Information System), equivalent to the level of the GIS course offered to undergraduate students of Biology and Agricultural Sciences at AU.

Underviser

Course manager: John E. Hermansen, head of research unit, AU-DJF. Experts in the individual areas will conduct the teaching.

Undervisnings- og arbejdsform

A mix of lectures, problem based exercises, excursions and project seminars. You will work in project groups with focus on agro-environmental aspects in relation to a particular farm (or group of farms). There will be possibility to put emphasis on Danish/Western European systems or systems in other part of the world.

English/Danish, depending on international participation.

Litteratur

Kristensen, T. & Hermansen, J.E. 2000. Concept for farming systems research. http://www.agrsci.dk/var/agrsci/storage/original/application/e566d5a3bac292c9fff973e44fa7de96.pdf.

Halberg, N., Verschuur, G. & Goodlass, G. 2005. Farm level environmental indicators; are they useful?: An overview of green accounting systems for European farms. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 105, 195-212.

McConnell, D.J. & Dillon, J.L. 1997. Management, farm management and farm systems. Appendix in: Farm Management for Asia: A Systems Approach. (FAO Farm Systems Management Series - 13). www.fao.org/docrep/W7365E/W7365E00.htm

Noe, E., Halberg, N. 2002. Research Experience with Tools to Involve Farmers and Local Institutions in Developing More Environmentally Friendly Practices. In: Hagedorn, K. (ed.). Environmental Co-operation and Institutional Change. Chapter 8, 143-161.

Dalgaard, R., Halberg, N., Kristensen, I.S. & Larsen, I. 2006. Modelling representative and coherent Danish farm types based on farm accountancy data for use in environmental assessments. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 117, 223-237.

Studieordning og bedømmelse

Kandidatuddannelsen i jordbrug, natur og miljø

• Mundtlig, bedømt efter 7-skala med ekstern censur

Oral examination based on a project report (weighting two third) and the curriculum (weighing one third) will be assessed jointly, using the Danish 7-point grading scale. The examination lasts 30 minutes. Students may choose to be axamined in either Danish or English. External examiner.