YPS-30306 Analysis and Management of Sustainable Organic Production Chains

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

Basic knowledge of organic production chains, basic mathematical skills.

Contents:

Organic production chains are increasingly complicated as a result of the need to balance people, planet, prosperity and profit. This course focuses on the multidisciplinary impacts of the transition from conventional to organic production chains. Conventional and organic agricultural chains are compared in terms of institutional organization, consumer acceptance, ecological impact, social impact and economic feasibility. In each of these domains the student is introduced to key theoretical concepts and basic research methodology. The goal of the course is to provide tools to analyse and manage the transition of conventional agricultural chains towards organic and sustainable chains.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- explain the multidimensionality of, and the multidisciplinary conceptual considerations underlying, risks and benefits of sustainable production chains, relative to different stakeholders;
- apply and interpret some widely used techniques to assess the ecological, social, and economic sustainability of agricultural production chains;
- extract and evaluate implicit knowledge of stakeholders involved in agricultural production chains through a multi stakeholder process;
- integrate the risks and benefits of ecological, social, and economic sustainability for agricultural production chains;
- appreciate the trade-offs between sustainable outcomes and between chain actors that are inevitable in the design and management of sustainable organic production chains.

Activities:

- lectures;
- project;
- intensive Practical's:
- extensive Practical's;
- tutored self-work.

Examination:

- project (50%);
- open book exam (50%);
Both project and exam have to be completed with a mark of 5.5 or higher.

Literature:

To be announced.