Module Information
Module Identifier
BR30420
Module Title
The Agri-Environment
Academic Year
2016/2017
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Other Staff
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Field Trip | 3 x 3 Hour Field Trips |
| Lecture | 11 x 1 Hour Lectures |
| Seminar | 1 x 1 Hour Seminar |
| Lecture | 11 x 2 Hour Lectures |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Whole farm conservation plan - critique. | 40% |
| Semester Exam | 3 Hours | 60% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module. | 40% |
| Supplementary Exam | 3 Hours Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module. | 60% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Identify the potential environmental impacts resulting from various agricultural practices
2. Critically review the evidence used to compare the environmental impacts of different agricultural systems
3. Recognise the importance of scale (time and distance) in evaluating environmental impacts
4. Formulate a model to assess the possible environmental impacts of a new agricultural practice
5. Develop a farm waste management plan
6. Critically evaluate a whole farm conservation plan
Brief description
The impacts of intensive, extensive and organic agriculture and other forms of agricultural system on the environment are examined in terms of: biodiversity, genetic diversity, habitat quality, habitat fragmentation, pollution and sustainable resource use.
Much of the module is based around assessing the effectiveness of an agri-environment agreement to deliver improvements in ecosystem services.
Much of the module is based around assessing the effectiveness of an agri-environment agreement to deliver improvements in ecosystem services.
Content
The full range of environmental impacts of agricultural systems are considered. Selected key impacts are explored in more depth.
A review of historical development of European environmental policy and agri-environment schemes will set the context for understanding current on-farm conservation practice.
The practical ability to produce a whole-farm conservation plan will be developed by critical review of existing plans and the integration of ecological science with practical agricultural knowledge.
The content of the module will be synthesized through developing spatially and temporally explicit conceptual models of land-use.
A review of historical development of European environmental policy and agri-environment schemes will set the context for understanding current on-farm conservation practice.
The practical ability to produce a whole-farm conservation plan will be developed by critical review of existing plans and the integration of ecological science with practical agricultural knowledge.
The content of the module will be synthesized through developing spatially and temporally explicit conceptual models of land-use.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Not a significant component of the module. |
| Communication | Although the assignment is underpinned by scientific understanding the students are required to present this information for a lay/agricultural audience. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Range of study techniques are encouraged, informal feedback provided during workshop sessions. |
| Information Technology | Not a significant component of the module. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Much of the module is vocational and applied in nature and valuable training for careers in the agri-environment sector. |
| Problem solving | This skill is a key component of the assignments that is a critical analysis of a farm conservation plan. |
| Research skills | This is an integrative module that requires students to assimilate knowledge from agriculture, economics and environmental science. |
| Subject Specific Skills | |
| Team work | Students are encouraged to discuss the assignments collectively to benefit from a wider knowledge base. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6