Duration
20h Th, 26h Pr, 26h FT
Number of credits
| Master in agroecology (120 ECTS) | 6 crédits | |||
| Master in agricultural bioengineering (120 ECTS) | 6 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
I. Introduction
II. The different facets of the concept of Agroecology
III. Tools of Agroecology as a Science: methods, concpets, theory
IV. Illustration of the scientific basis of agroecology and their application to concrete cases (face to face seminars - webinars)
V. Illustration of agroecological practices (excursions, faceto face seminar, webinars)
VI. Personal work on the characteristics and mode of application of agroecological practices in particular contexts in tropical areas: oral presentation and delivery of a written report.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Give students a good understanding of the different facets of the concept of agroecology and make them acquire knowledges and skills in agro-ecology to enable them to develop sustainably tropical agro-ecosystems.
At the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Define the principles of agro-ecology and discuss how they are related to the development of sustainable agricultural systems.
- Propose suitable agroecological solutions for improving agricultural systems in tropical regions
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
GEOP0002-1 - Edaphology
AGRO0001-1 - Agricutlure basis
ENVT2044-1 - General ecology
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Learning activities consist of: (i) 20 hours of ex-cathedra courses to present basic concepts; (ii) 10 hours of seminars presented by experts in conservation agriculture, pest biological control, application of agroecological practices in tropical regions; (iii) 26 hours of field visit spent visiting farms applying agroecological practices, the the center of training in composting of the Jean Pain Foundation, the pilot site of the "Purver" vermicomposting company; (iv) a personal work in which each student will identify and propose the methods of applying an agroecological practice adapted to the characteristics of an agro-ecosystem described previously in the course. This work will be presented to all students of the class.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
Face-to-face, webinars, seminars, and student work on a case study
Recommended or required readings
PDF copy of the slides presented during lectures and seminars
Van Dam, D., Stassart, P. et al. (2012). Agroécologie: Entre pratiques et sciences sociales. Educagri Editions.
P.M. Stassart, Baret Ph., Grégoire J Cl., Hance Th., Mormont M., Reheul D., Stilmant D., Vanloqueren G., Visser M (2012). L'agroécologie, trajectoire et potentiels pour une transition vers des systemes alimentaires durables.
http://www.agroecologie.be/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Agroecologie_Stassart_Baret_et_al_GIRAF_version_web2_1.pdf
AgriSud (2010). Guide. L'agroécologie en pratique. http://www.agrisud.org/fr/type-publications/guides/
Manuel pratique du semis direct à Madagascar : http://agroecologie.cirad.fr/librairie_virtuelle
Griffon M. 2013. Qu'est-ce que l'agriculture écologiquement intensive. Quae. Versailles. France. 221p.
Assessment methods and criteria
Excursion reports : 25%
Oral and written presentations of personal work: 25%
Written exam (MCQ): 25%
Oral exam: 25%
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Contacts
Mergeai, Guy (Chargé de cours) Phytotechnie tropicale et Horticulture 081 62 21 44 gmergeai@ulg.ac.be