2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

BLGY5236M Agri-Environmental Monitoring, Economics and Policy

15 creditsClass Size: 50

Module manager: Dr Beth Dyson
Email: B.Dyson@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

The module will ensure that students can make a difference to UK farming in real world contexts, applying their knowledge of sustainable food production within the policy and economic frameworks of UK agriculture. Students will develop a working knowledge of the environmental, economic and policy considerations of farming sustainably in the UK.

Objectives

In this module students will gain an appreciation of the practicalities and complexities involved in assessing the sustainability of agricultural environments and an in-depth understanding of the social and political aspects of sustainable agriculture. Topics will include measuring emissions, life cycle assessment, carbon accounting, incentive schemes, and agricultural policy. This module features a combination of lectures and seminars, coupled with field visits to develop monitoring skills.

Learning outcomes
1. Describe and compare a variety of different aspects of environmental monitoring, identifying appropriate strategies for agricultural systems.
2. Interpret and apply UK and EU policies to farming and food production, identifying appropriate strategies to maximise sustainability.
3. Evaluate the impacts of various agri-environmental policies and targets at the national, local and on-farm level.
4. Demonstrate and explain a variety of different on-farm monitoring techniques and judge their efficacy.
5. Prepare and plan a schedule for environmental monitoring in an agricultural setting, taking into account policy frameworks and economic considerations.

Syllabus

Lectures will cover the agri-environmental policy situation in the UK and EU, including environmental land management schemes and the common agricultural policy. Seminars will place these policies into context, examining the economic implications and addressing the research behind some of these guidelines. Field work will address how the policies can be implemented in on-farm setting, with a particular focus on environmental monitoring.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lectures	4	1.00	4.00
Seminars	5	1.00	5.00
Fieldwork	2	8.00	16.00
Private study hours			125.00
Total Contact hours			25.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Students will be expected to write up any notes taken in the field. Independent, in depth study of the topics introduced in the seminars and lectures, plus preparing for assessment will take up the majority of the independent learning time.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will get practice MCQs to assess their knowledge of environmental monitoring techniques. Direct feedback on student performance will be given in the field. Students will be encouraged to submit small amounts of written work (up to 500 words) to assess their writing and/or plans for the written work.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Report	2,000 word data analysis conclusion	40.00
In-course Assessment	20 short answer questions	30.00
Report	1,500 words	30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 31/07/2024

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