AGRO0001-1 : Compared agriculture

University of Liege | Version française

Study programmes 2011-2012

Last update : 14/06/2012

AGRO0001-1

Compared agriculture

Duration :

34h Th, 2h FT

Number of credits :

Bachelor in bioengineering, 3rd year	First semester	3

One-year preliminary programme leading to the Master in Bioengineering	First semester	3

Required preliminary complements to register in the Advanced Master in Tropical and Subtropical Culture Protection	First semester	3

Required preliminary complements to Advanced Master in Plant and Animal Resource Management in tropical environment	First semester	3

Lecturer :

Bernard Bodson, Guy Mergeai

Coordinator :

Bernard Bodson

Language(s) of instruction :

French language

Course contents :

1. Introduction : diversity of agricultural forms thorough the world ;
2. Human presence and needs of agricultural products;
3. "System" concept and its application in agriculture;
4. Natural and socio-economical factors determining agricultural activities;
5. Production factors involved in agriculture; 6. Vegetal production; 7. Animal production; 8. Genesis of farming systems; 9. Farming systems in tropical regions; 10. Diversity of farming systems in Europe; 11. Farming systems in North American Great Plains

Learning outcomes of the course :

Approach of the diversity of main farming systems around the world, as a result of ecological and historic features and socio-economical, political and technological evolution. Assessment of farming systems, based on productivity, stability, autonomy and sustainability. After completing the course, the student is expected to: - Understand how agriculture works in the different part of the world; - Analyze a farming system, depending on main factors which can determine or influence it; - Give a critical interpretation on agricultural systems functioning mode.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :

Introduction with a movie followed by a discussion: 2h
Visit on the Experimental Farm to get in touch with cropping practices: 2h
Lectures "ex cathedra" given by one of the two professors according to their expertise, depending on the thema: 30h
Open discussion at the end of the cursus with the two professors: 2h

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :

Face-to-face