Module Information
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Oral and written debate contribution Students will be assessed on their oral debate contribution and written contributions to debate preparation 15 Minutes | 50% |
| Semester Assessment | 2 Hours Controlled timed assessment | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | 2 Hours Controlled timed assessment | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Oral and written debate contribution Students will be assessed on their oral debate contribution and written contributions to debate preparation. The debate will take place with the tutor. 15 Minutes | 50% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Debate and defend positions taken on relevant issues within the agri-food chain and at the interface between agriculture and the environment
Discuss the effects of technological change, policy and societal pressures on the structure and sustainability of agricultural and agri-food systems
Work independently to use appropriate resources and methods to evaluate the status of agricultural systems and their interactions with the wider environment
Identify how agricultural production systems and agri-food chains can attain better environmental outcomes
Brief description
The module asks students to engage with key issues in the food chain including the globalisation of food markets, the homogenisation of production systems, sustainability, environmental impacts of agricultural intensification, technological change, agricultural policy development, public concerns with food production and health, animal welfare, and future consumer and population demands on agri-food systems. Students will also be asked to demonstrate how evaluation of agricultural systems can identify approaches that may make agricultural production systems and agri-food chains more sustainable.
Content
The module will start with an overview of the different elements of current food production systems whilst looking at how they interact with the environment. The environmental challenges of farming systems will be identified before potential solutions will be highlighted. The module will also consider the role of novel technologies and approaches in creating sustainable food production and farming systems.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Co-ordinating with others | Students will work as teams to prepare their arguments for the debate. This will require effective co-ordination and division of labour and tasks. |
| Communication | Students will develop oral communications skills in order to articulate their argument and defend their taken positions. |
| Information Technology | Students will use appropriate resources and methods to evaluate the status of agricultural systems and their interactions with the wider environment These may include Excel based calculators, GIS software and online based software as required. |
| Problem solving | Identify factors which might influence potential solutions. Evaluate advantages and disadvantages of potential solutions Select appropriate software and methods for use in assessments. |
| Research skills | Students will be required to engage with the peer-reviewed research literature and this will require effective use of scientific search engines, and critical reading and appraisal of scientific papers |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5