Duration
9h Th, 6h Pr, 3h FT
Number of credits
| Master in agroecology (120 ECTS) | 2 crédits | |||
| Master in agricultural bioengineering (120 ECTS) | 2 crédits |
Lecturer
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Context justifing the existence of this course
Agroecology studies cropping systems a specific ecosystems in which the natural environment is transformed by agricultural practices. It combines agronomy and ecologyto allow natural regulations to match man interventions better in ordre to conceive more sustainable agro-ecosystems. From a broader perspective, agroecology is considered as the ecology of a feeding systems, including its economical, social and environmental dimensions, linking production to consumption. Agroecology in livestock is currently overlooked in the scientific litterature while at the same time, papers dealing with the impact of livestock on the environement are uncountable. Nonetheless, the issue lies is the animals themselves, but rather in the way they are intergrated in agro-ecosystems and feeding systems.
On the grounds that animals can play a role in agro-ecosystems, in this course, we will think about the application of the principles of agroecology to livestock production and about the operational choices that are or can be made to ensure a transition towards agroecology in livestock production.
Contents of the course
This course will be based on case-studies chosen by the students with the cooperation of the teachers. THe teachers will bring a methodological framework based on the 5 principles of agroecology applied to livestock: (1) integrated health management, (2) reduction in emissions relying on natural cycles, (3) preservation of biodiversity through adapted practices, (4) enhance diversity to increase resilience, (5) reduction in pollution though an optimized metabolic functionning of the systems. Then , the students will applied this framework to analyze a case-study and suggest options for an agroecological transition in the studied system.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
At the end of this course, the students will master an analysis framework for agroecology applied to livestock produciton systems. They will be able to apply this methodological framework to a given farm. They will be able to suggest operational changes in order to switch towards a production system that is in line with the principles of agroecology to become actual actors of change of the agroecological transition.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Basic knowledge in animal production, crop production, ecology, farm economy, ecosystem services.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The teaching will be based on group works during which students will be supervised by the teachers. Students will be called to visit (a) farm(s), discuss with experts, read litterature, etc.
A report will be yielded and defended orally in front of the teachers and the whole class.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
The tecahing will combien face-to-face teaching to auto-learning sessions and tutorial classes.
Recommended or required readings
It is expected from the students that they read the analysis framework in the following document before the first course : Botreau R, Farruggia A., Martin B., Pomiès D., B. Dumont B., 2014. Towards an agroecological assessment of dairy systems: proposal for a set of criteria suited to mountain farming. Animal, 8: 1349-1360. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1751731114000925
Assessment methods and criteria
The final assessment of the students will be based on the group works. Modalities will be specified during the first course.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Contacts
Feel free to contact the teachers for any question reagrding this course. We are available during the planned sessions or by appointment. You can contact us by phone or email (yves.beckers@uliege.be, +32 81 62 21 19, jerome.bindelle@uliege.be +32 81 62 26 09). Our offices are located in the building of the precision livestock and nutrition unit.