AP502 Sustainable Agriculture: Climate and Environmental Issues

DESCRIPTION

This unit provides students with advanced knowledge of sustainable agriculture, management of crops, livestock and fisheries, and the effect of environmental factors on agriculture. Students will critically evaluate theories and practices regarding adapting, mitigating, or minimising the impact of climate change on agriculture and ensure its sustainability. This unit will also provide students with skills and attitudes to develop and apply sustainable agricultural practices and measures to address challenges posed by climate change.

RELEVANT COURSES

Master of Agricultural Information Management*

Master of Business Administration (Agribusiness)*

*Core unit

CREDIT POINTS

10

DELIVERY MODE

On campus

Online

Mixed mode

Intensive

Extensive

PREREQUISITE OR CO-REQUISITE

AP501 Food, Fibre, and Protein

UNIT LEARNING OUTCOMES

LO1 Demonstrate advanced understanding of the theories of climate change and sustainable agricultural systems

LO2 Critically analyse the effect of environment and climate change on sustainable crop, livestock, and fisheries production

LO3 Apply fundamentals of land and water use management in sustainable resource management

LO4 Critically evaluate the role of science, technology, innovation, and ethics in sustainable agriculture

LO5 Formulate and present an innovative policy and/or technology intervention to address a country/region specific climate/environmental issue

CONTENT

  • Principles of sustainable agriculture and environment
  • Role of sustainable agriculture in achieving SDGs
  • Climate change terminology; evidence and causes, climate change adaptation and mitigation
  • Impact of environmental factors on crop, livestock, and fisheries production and achieving sustainability
  • Water and land sustainability issues
  • Water and land resources management
  • Genetically modified approaches in adapting to climate change
  • Precision plant engineering

ASSESSMENT METHODS

  1. Reading Reflections – 30%
  2. Case Study: Part 1 – 20%
  3. Case Study: Final – 50%

PRESCRIBED READINGS

Baritz, R., Wiese, L., Verbeke, I. and Vargas, R. (2018). Voluntary guidelines for sustainable soil management: Global action for healthy soils. In: Ginzky, H., Dooley, E., Heuser, I., Kasimbazi, E., Markus, T. and Qin, T. (eds). International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy. Cham, Switzerland: Springer.

Jhariya, M.K., Meena, R.S., Banerjee, A. (2021). Ecological intensification of natural resources for sustainable agriculture. Gateway East: Springer.

Lichtfouse, E. (2020). Sustainable Agriculture Reviews 39. Cham, Switzerland: Springer

Check with the lecturer each semester before purchasing any textbooks