Environmental Issues in Crop Production
Course evaluation
The course evaluation is now closed
BI1283-20006 - Course evaluation report
Once the evaluation is closed, the course coordinator and student representative have 1 month to draft their comments. The comments will be published in the evaluation report.
Additional course evaluations for BI1283
Academic year 2024/2025
Environmental Issues in Crop Production (BI1283-20039)
2024-11-01 - 2025-01-19
Academic year 2022/2023
Environmental Issues in Crop Production (BI1283-20081)
2022-11-01 - 2023-01-15
Academic year 2021/2022
Environmental Issues in Crop Production (BI1283-20052)
2021-11-02 - 2022-01-16
Academic year 2020/2021
Environmental Issues in Crop Production (BI1283-20080)
2020-11-02 - 2021-01-17
Academic year 2019/2020
Environmental Issues in Crop Production (BI1283-20008)
2019-11-01 - 2020-01-19
Academic year 2018/2019
Environmental Issues in Crop Production (BI1283-20007)
2018-11-05 - 2019-01-20
Academic year 2017/2018
Environmental Issues in Crop Production (BI1283-20063)
2017-10-30 - 2018-01-14
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
BI1283 Environmental Issues in Crop Production, 15.0 Credits
Miljörelaterade frågor i växtproduktionSubjects
Horticultural Science Biology Biology Horticultural scienceEducation cycle
Master’s levelModules
| Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Single module | 15.0 | 0201 |
Advanced study in the main field
Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirementsMaster’s level (A1N)
Grading scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Language
EnglishPrior knowledge
The equivalent of 120 credits including 30 credits in Biology, Horticultural Science, Agricultural Science, Environmental Science or Landscape Architecture, and English 6 (Swedish upper secondary school).Objectives
The course focus on environmental problems arising in crop production. It provides students with knowledge and experience generally applicable within the utilisation and conservation of natural resources, independent of whether the crop is used for food, feed, raw materials for industry or urban landscape management.
On completion of the course, the student should be able to:
describe in principle the effects of crop production on the environment, with focus on biological and ecological processes
choose methods and tools for describing, analysing and evaluating environmental issues
independently describe, analyse and evaluate the use of non-renewable resources within agricultural and horticultural crop production, the effects of these on the environment and finally be able to propose alternatives
independently describe, analyse and evaluate the use of pesticides within agricultural and horticultural crop production, the effects of these on humans and in the surrounding environment and finally be able to propose alternatives
describe how certification and labelling systems can be used to decrease negative environmental impact of crop production
propose solutions and preventative measures for crop production that could lead to sustainable practices, the conservation of natural resources, fulfilment of the environmental goals, and contribute to sustainable development
present a topic, relevant to the course, in a scientifically and critically reflective manner.
Content
The course consists to a large extent of projects that train the students on how to formulate, analyse and solve environmental problems. The project reports are presented both orally and in written form. Project work is supported by lectures and literature seminars.
Introduction of the various environmental and resource conservation problems that arise in crop production.
Introduction to environmental and sustainability goals in relation to crop production.
Description, analysis and evaluation of the effects of crop production on the environment and the use of renewable and non-renewable resources, such as energy, nutrients, water and pesticides.
Methods for describing, analysing and evaluating environmental effects e.g. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Cost-Benefit Analysis and other systems analysis methods. Training in the use of LCA.
Measures to reduce the negative effects on the environment and the use of non-renewable resources.
Possibilities for sustainable crop production to contribute to biological diversity and aesthetic values in the landscape.
Systems for documenting and directing environmental protection. Certification of marketable agricultural and horticultural products.
Discussions on the socio-economical processes affecting how natural resources are exploited in crop production.
Scheduled supervision, seminars as well as excursions are mandatory.
Grading form
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.Formats and requirements for examination
To pass the course, approved written reports, oral presentations, and participating in compulsory course activities are required.
If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Other information
The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Responsible department
Department of Biosystems and Technology
Further information
Litterature list
Course literature BI1283 – Environmental issues of crop production
Book
Bauman H, Tillman A-M (2004) The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to LCA – An orientation in life cycle assessment methodology and application. Studentlitteratur. Lund. (ISBN 91-44-02364-2)
Reading seminars
-
- Clark M and Tilman D (2017) Comparative analysis of environmental impacts of agricultural production systems, agricultural input efficiency, and food choice. Environmental Research Letters 12:1-11.
- Schulte et al (2017) Prairie strips improve biodiversity and the delivery of multiple ecosystem services from corn-soybean croplands. PNAS 114.
- Lipper et al (2014) Climate-smart agriculture for food security. Nature Climate Change 4:1068–1072.
- Poore & Nemecek (2018) Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers. Science 360:987-992.
- Nemecek et al (2015) Designing eco-efficient crop rotations using life cycle assessment of crop combinations. European Journal of Agronomy 65:40–51.
- Sutton et al (2011) Too much of a good thing. Nature Comment 472:159-161.
- Velthof et al (2014) The impact of the Nitrates Directive on nitrogen emissions from agriculture in the EU-27 during 2000-2008. Science of the Total Environment 468-469:1225-1233.
- Zhang et al (2016) The potential of fertilizer management for reducing nitrous oxide emissions in the cleaner production of bamboo in China. Journal of Cleaner Production 112:2536-2544.
- Schnug et al (2015) Responses of earthworms to repeated exposure to three biocides applied singly and as a mixture in an agricultural field. Science of The Total Environment 505:223-235.
- Wallingford et al (2017) Evaluating a push–pull strategy for management of Drosophila suzukii Matsumura in red raspberry. Pest Management Science
- Hoeppner et al (2005) Energy use and efficiency in two Canadian organic and conventional crop production systems. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 21:60-67.
**NOTE: These 11 compulsory articles and reports are available in FRONTER. **
Additional reading
*Bommarco et al (2013) Ecological intensification: harnessing ecosystem services for food security. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 28: 230–238. *
*Delzeit et al (2016) Addressing future trade-offs between biodiversity and cropland expansion to improve food security. Regional Environmental Change 4:1-13. *
FAO (2009) Agriculture at Crossroads –* **Key recommendations from the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development. Synthesis (approx. 100 pp) *
*FAO (2010) Climate Smart Agriculture. Policies, Practices and Financing for Food Security, Adaptation and Mitigation. (approx. 50 pp) *
Lin (2011) Resilience in Agriculture through Crop Diversification: Adaptive Management for Environmental Change. BioScience 61:183-193.
Raworth (2012) A safe and just space for humanity – Can we live within the doughnut?
*Rockström et al (2009) Planetary boundaries: Exploring the safe operation space for humanity. *Ecology and Society 14(2:32).
Steffen et al (2015) Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet. *347:1-12. *
WWF (2014) Living Planet Report. Species and spaces, people and places. (approx. 200 pp)* *Tscharntke et al (2012) Global food security, biodiversity conservation and the future of agricultural intensification. Biological Conservation, 51:53-59.