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World Agriculture

Course developer

Prior knowledge

LauZ2054, Crop Production

LauZ2055, Animal Husbandry

Course abstract

The study course introduces students to the most important topicalities in world agriculture, and it focuses on challenges to global agriculture and the objectives set, the place of agriculture in the global economy, world food problems and potential solutions, the global diversity of cropping and livestock systems and practices, diversity in the world, the distribution of land resources, technological developments in agriculture. The course extends students’ observational field to the global scale and gives practical skills in the assessment of agriculture and in the analysis of different situations in various world regions.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Students will be able to demonstrate:
KNOWLEDGE of
1) agricultural challenges worldwide, current problems and trends. Discussions and debates.
2) the diversity of the world's agriculture, the most important indicators and understands the factors that influence them. Examination.
SKILLS
Professional skills to
1) assess the different circumstances, problems and contradictions in world agriculture and to see the main factors influencing world agriculture. Examination.
2) arguably characterise the agricultural sector and explain its development directions in different countries of the world. Independent work.
Soft skills to
1) present the results of independent work. Independent work.
2) engage in discussion and argue in defence of the opinion. Debates.
COMPETENCES to
1) create new approaches for solving actual problems of world agriculture in the context of achieving the common social development goals. Debates.

2) link agricultural processes with the ongoing world economic and political processes. Discussions.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Introduction to world agriculture.
The essence of agriculture. The role and basic functions of agriculture. The nature and pace of world agricultural development. Prerequisites for studying the course, sources of information. (1h - lecture, 1h - practical)
2. World agriculture in the context of globalization and sustainable development.
Major global trends (globalization, population growth, climate change, water availability, food security etc.), their impact on global agricultural development. Main challenges to world agriculture, the goals set. (1h - lecture, 1h - practical)
3. World agriculture in the context of general economic development.
General characteristics of the world economy, the nature of development. The role of agriculture in the world economy. The diversity and quantity of food produced in agriculture. (2h - lectures, 2h - practicals)
4. Similarities and differences in agriculture among world regions.
General characteristics of world regions, economic growth in the regions, the role of agriculture in the regional economy. The diversity of agriculture, climate, soil, and land resources in the world, their impacts on agricultural development. (2h - lectures, 2h - practicals)
5. Characteristics of European and North American agriculture.
Trends in crop production, the diversity of farming types, the importance of crop rotation. Trends in livestock production, differences between various types of livestock keeping (grazing, barn keeping), some aspects related to intensive pig and poultry production. (1h - lecture, 1h - practical)
6. Places of Australia and New Zealand in world agriculture.
Characteristics of agricultural structure, the place of animal husbandry in agriculture. The latest achievements in animal husbandry. (1h - lecture, 1h - practical)
7. Specifics of Asian agriculture.
Trends in agricultural development, their relation to population changes, dietary changes, consumption trends and food security. Characteristics of main crops, livestock varieties, an analysis of economic indicators. (1h - lecture, 1h - practical)
8. Characteristics of South American agriculture.
Agriculture affecting population changes, dietary changes, consumption trends and food security. Characteristics of main crops, livestock varieties, an analysis of economic indicators. (1h - lecture, 1h - practical)
9. Development of organic farming in the world.
The nature and pace of development of organic farming in the world, the main indicators (area, production volumes, market size). Recent trends in organic farming in the regions of the world. (2h - lectures, 2h - practicals)
10. World experience in the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture.
Use of GMOs in agriculture – the nature and pace of development, the main indicators (area, production volumes, market size) and main players. Recent trends in the use of GMOs in agriculture. (2h - lectures, 2h - practicals)
11. Development of technologies in agriculture, the application of information technologies, their impact on agricultural development.
The classification, characteristics and pace of development of technologies used in agriculture. The characteristics and application of precision agriculture, the latest crop production, animal husbandry and digital technologies. (2h - lectures, 2h – practicals)

Requirements for awarding credit points

The student must perform an individual practical assignment on similarities and differences in agriculture in certain countries of the world; the work should be presented in practical classes. The student must participate in discussions and debates during classes, assessing global agriculture in the context of globalization and sustainable development, organic farming, as well as global experience in the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture and technological development in agriculture. At the end, an examination is taken.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

1) Students are introduced to and study the literature on world agriculture.
2) A presentation on agricultural issues of certain regions of the world (up to 12 slides) has to be made independently, which is presented in classes.

3) Information is obtained and an understanding of discussion topics is developed for practical classes.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The final mark consists of the following pieces of assessment: an individual practical assignment on similarities and differences in agriculture in the countries of the world and a presentation of it – 40%, activity in discussions and debates during practical classes – 20%, an examination – 40%.

Compulsory reading

1. Drummond H.E., Goodwin J.W. (2011) Agricultural Economics. New York: Prentice Hall, 395 p. ISBN 978-0-13-607192-1
2. Marsden T. Agri-Food and Rural Development: Sustainable Place-Making. London: New York,NY: Bloomsbury Akademic, 2017. 187 lpp. ISBN: 978-0-85785-740-8
3. Simons L. (2015) Changing the Food Game. Market Transformation Strategies for Sustainable Agriculture. Sheffield: Greenleaf Publishing Limited, 248 p.

4. Southgate D., Graham D.H., Tweeten L. (2011) The World of Food Economy. New Your: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 452 p. ISBN 978-0-470-5962-2

Further reading

1. CAB International (2006) Global Development of Organic Agriculture: Challanges and Prospects. Denmark: CABi Publishing, 376 p. ISBN 9781845930783
2. Chopra S., Meindl P. Supply Chain Management:Strategy, Planning, and Operation. Sixth edition. England: Pearson Education Limited, 2016. 528 lpp. ISBN: 10: 1-292-09356-0
3. FAO (1995) the State of Food and Agriculture. Rome: FAO, 301 p. ISBN 92-5-103700-0
4. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Health Organization (2010) FAO/WHO expert meeting on the application of nanotechnologies in the food and agriculture sectors: potential food safety implications: meeting report. Rome: FAO; Geneva: WHO, 109p.
5. Judrupa I. (2007) Eiropas valstu ekonomika. Rīga: RTU Izdevniecība, 332 lpp. ISBN 978-9984-32-434-0
6. Radžele-Šulce A., Krieviņa A., Siliņa L. (2012) Agrārā sfēra un tās galveno nozaru attīstība Latvijā. Jelgava: LLU Ekonomikas fakultāte, 204 lpp. ISBN 978-9934-8304-5-7
7. Roorda N. Fundamentals of Sustainable Development. Second edition. New York: Routledge, 2017.382 lpp. ISBN: 978-1-138-09265-5

8. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/ The World Bank (2008) Agriculture and Development. Washington: Office of the Publisher, The World Bank, 233 p. ISBN 978-0-8213-7157-5

Periodicals and other sources

1. Agrotops: žurnāls katram zemniekam un lauku uzņēmējam. Rīga: AS „Lauku avīze”. ISSN 1407-5164
2. Kapitāls: žurnāls lietišķiem cilvēkiem, krāsains biznesa un ekonomikas žurnāls. Rīga: SIA Izdevniecība IKK. ISSN 1407-2505
3. Saimnieks LV: esi saimnieks savā zemē. Rīga: Saimnieks LV izdevniecība. ISSN 1691-1598
4. The World Bank Group - http://www.worldbank.org
5. Gen Edge News - http://www.gmo-compass.org
6. Global organic farming statics and news - http://www.organic-world.net
7. The Food and Agriculture Organization - http://www.fao.org/home/en/

8. Zemkopības ministrijas mājas lapa - http://www.zm.gov.lv

Notes

Restricted elective course for the ESAF academic bachelor programme Economics, specialisation Agricultural and Environmental Economics.