| CODE | AGR1401 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Introduction to the Mediterranean Food and Agro-Ecosystems | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Rural Sciences and Food Systems | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will provide the students with a broad holistic overview of the changing agri-food systems within the changing societies. It will include the historical socio-economic evolution of Med Countries since WWII, their macro-trends (demographic growth, urbanization, etc), relevance of agriculture and post gate activities, past and present problems (economic, social, technological, ecological, etc.). This study-unit will position agri-food systems in their historical and economical perspective. Introduction to the global agro-ecosystem as our primary source of food, and also its integration with the socioeconomic and natural contexts. The following specific topics will be provided: illustrated review with case studies of the various major types e.g. hot-wet, hot dry, Mediterranean agro-ecosystems, etc; definition of agro-ecosystems in both the spatial and functional terms; environment–economic–human interactions within agro-ecosystems; introduction to agro-ecosystem models, hierarchy in systems, sustainable productivity, etc.; the role of agro-ecosystem management in guiding research. Study-unit Aims a) Provide the students with a wide multidisciplinary platform of knowledge about the situation of the agri-food systems in the Mediterranean basin; b) facilitate the mutual exchange of knowledge amongst the students; c) facilitate the formation of co-operative attitude (through work groups and open debates). Learning Outcomes 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: 1) interpret changes in agri-food systems within a changes in societies; 2) describe the historical socio-economic evolution of Mediterrranean Countries since WWII; 3) relate between macro-trends (demographic growth, urbanization, etc), relevance of agriculture and post gate activities, past and present problems (economic, social, technological, ecological, etc.). 4) introducing the global agro-ecosystem as our primary source of food; 5) define agro-ecosystems in both the spatial and functional terms; 6) relate environment, economy and humans to agro-ecosystems. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: 1) categorise agri-food systems in their historical and economical perspective; 2) examine and analyse case studies of the various major types e.g. hot-wet, hot dry, Mediterranean agro-ecosystems, etc; 3) integrating the socioeconomic and natural contexts; 4)applying agro-ecosystem models, hierarchy in systems, sustainable productivity, etc.; 5) analyze the role of agro-ecosystem management in guiding research. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings Agriculture, ecosystems & environment : an international journal for scientific research on the relationship of agriculture and food production to the biosphere. Amsterdam : Elsevier, Vol.30, nos. 1/2 (1990)- . 0167-8809. (Main Library). World Bank (2002) Reaching the rural poor in the MENA Region, Washington DC. http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2002/08/09/000094946_0207270405421/Rendered/PDF/multi0page.pdf IFAD ( 2003) Assessment of rural poverty in NENA, Roma. www.ifad.org/poverty/region/pn/nena.pdf |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Anthony Zammit |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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