Sustainable Agri-Food Systems

44B0719

Bachelor

English

10.0

only summer term

1 semester

Focus on transformation in agricultural and horticultural systems. The students should acquire intercultural competences and gain insights into the foundations of national and international agri-food systems. Students will explore key challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, food security, and resource efficiency in agriculture. The course addresses both global and regional perspectives, with a focus on sustainable farming practices, supply chain management, and policy frameworks that promote sustainability in the agri-food sector. The main topic are plants for food production, animals production systems and also non-food plants which play a vital role in the transformation process of agri-food sytsmes towards a sustainable circular economy. This course is carried out with Partner Universities that may be changed, as circumstances demand.

General objectives - Knowledge about entrepreneurship in foreign countries and the influence of the political and economic environment - Development in understanding the importance and position of the EU in agricultural business - Experience in dealing with cultural differences and intercultural communication. Students will be able to explore the possibilities and problems in internationalization of a company, analyzing commodity flow and value chain.

Students will get insights into the transformation of the agricultural and horticultural systems, Animal welfare, sustainable animal husbandry systems and quality management in production, Alternatives to meat and milk from the perspective of primary producers, Soil Conservation, Landscape development and biodiversity conservation, Renewable energies in permanent crops, Insights into the startup lab RISE (Room for Innovation and Student Empowerment), Communication of sustainability strategies, Plant breeding in the context of climate change.

Students will learn how to run a project and present the results in English for an international audience and local entrepreneurs.

The total workload for the module is 300 hours (see also "ECTS credit points and grading").

• Oral presentation, with written elaboration or
• oral exam

• Regular participation

The standard form of examination is the presentation (alternative form of examination may be chosen by the examiner and then announced at the beginning of the course)

Ungraded: Regular participation in the seminar

Presentation: 20 minutes; corresponding paper: 5 pages

English: Level B 1

The students transfer factors of a successful agri-food system to situations with different and challenging production conditions. They deepen their knowledge through presentation and discussion.

Students who have successfully completed this module can recognize typical challegenes for specific agri-food systems in the context of sustainablity and transformation. 

Students discuss the framework conditions of agricultural and food production, supply chains, agricultural and food policy and products against different production conditions and better assess the sales opportunities for agricultural and food products.

Students reflect on the basic knowledge of agri-food systems acquired in previous modules against the background of new application contexts. A particular focus is on the transfer of knowledge to real case studies from practice. They will be able to develop solutions for the successful transformation of agri-food systems. Students who have successfully completed this module will be able to recognize the given framework conditions in the agri-food system and manage to implement the Circular Economy Process.

Students apply subject-related skills and abilities in familiar and new contexts. The special feature of the module is its interdisciplinary orientation and problem solving, taking current challenges into account.

Students who have successfully completed this module will be able to work successfully in intercultural teams and are able to present and discuss results target group - specific e.g. to experts as well as the general public.

Students who have successfully completed this module will be able to recognize the given framework conditions in the agri-food system and manage to implement the Circular Economy Process.

• Kaufmann, Falko

• Enneking, Ulrich
• Kaufmann, Falko
• Meseth, Nicolas
• Westerheide, Jens

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