Sustainable Agriculture Policy

Total Hours in Course44

Number of hours for lectures18

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes26

Number of hours for laboratory classes0

Independent study hours64

Date of course confirmation30.01.2024

Responsible UnitInstitute of Soil and Plant Science

Course developer

Augsnes un augu zinātņu institūts

Ieva Līcīte

Ph.D.

Prior knowledge

LauZ3175, Agroecology and environmental protection

Course abstract

The aim of the study course is to provide knowledge about the impact of global processes and international policies on the development of agricultural and rural development policy, as well as an understanding of the principles of sustainable agricultural policy and its influencing factors. The course analyses the evolution of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the European Union, the institutional mechanisms of Latvia’s agricultural policy, and the process of drafting national legislation. It addresses globalization challenges, the synergies between environmental, climate and agricultural policies, food security, and the use of bioeconomy resources. Students acquire skills to analyse policy processes and develop competence to participate in policy-making through farmers’ organizations or other institutions.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

During the study course, students gain knowledge about the impact of globalization on the formation of agricultural and rural development policies and inter-policy interactions.
Students acquire the skills to determine the influencing factors of sustainable agricultural policy, to analyse the course of policy formation and its impact on production.
Students are competent to participate in the policy-making process through farmers' organizations or other institutions.
1. Understand the challenges caused by globalization for food security, environmental preservation and sustainable use of resources - test 1
2. Understand the European Union and the national institutional system for the formation and implementation of agricultural policy - test 2
3. Able to reasonably discuss and prepare information, according to the topics of the tasks received, in connection with the policy of sustainable agriculture – seminar classes

4. Able to analyse the consequences of Common Agriculture Policy interventions in a specific region or field of agriculture - homework

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Impact of globalization on the formation of agricultural and rural development policy and food security in the world. 2 h.
2. Air, water, soil, biodiversity, environment and land policy directions and their importance in the formation of agricultural policy. 2 h.
3. Possibilities of climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture. 2 h.
1st test – challenges caused by globalization for food security, environmental preservation and sustainable use of resources.
4. Agrarian reforms and their impact on agricultural policy in Latvia. 1 h.
5. Factors influencing common agricultural policy, basic principles and methods, relation with world agrarian policy. 2 h.
6. EU single market, advantages and disadvantages. 1 h.
7. Formation of common agricultural policy in the European Union and member states. 2 h.
8. Law and decision-making procedure in EU institutions and member states. 1 h.
2nd test – the European Union and national institutional system for creating and implementing agricultural policy.
9. The structure of the agricultural administration in Latvia. 1 h.
10. Political parties, interest groups, non-governmental and international organizations of farmers and their influence on the creation of sustainable agricultural policy at the international and national level. 1 h.
11. The importance of science and innovation in the formation of agricultural and rural policy, knowledge transfer and collaboration, international organizations and their relationship with the sustainable development of agriculture. 1 h

Seminars – work in groups and/or individually. Analytical material or presentation preparation, according to the course content, answering discussion questions about the sustainable development of agriculture.

Requirements for awarding credit points

An exam consisting of:
• successfully completed 2 tests during the semester;
• prepared presentations and/or (according to the instructions of the lecturer) analytical material on each of the topics of the seminar classes;
• homework prepared and presented during the final seminar.
All tests, seminar classes and homework must be successfully completed.
Retaking the unsettled tests at the time specified by the lecturer. If the seminar class is missed, the requirement to complete the class is independent preparation and submission of the analytical material on the relevant topic.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Homework – evaluation of the relevance of interventions of the KLP Strategic Plan in a specific region or field according to the student's choice. Presentation of the homework at the final seminar.
Preparation for seminar classes (data gathering, document analysis), group and individual work during seminar classes. Literature studies, preparation for the tests.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The cumulative assessment of the study course exam includes two tests, homework and a cumulative assessment of the work during seminar classes.

Compulsory reading

1. Siltumnīcefekta gāzu emisiju samazināšanas iespējas ar klimatam draudzīgu lauksaimniecību un mežsaimniecību Latvijā: autoru kolektīva monogrāfija; galvenais redaktors: Pēteris Rivža. Jelgava: Latvijas Lauksaimniecības universitāte, 2018. 278 lpp. ISBN: 978-9984-48-308-5
2. Bioekonomika: attīstības ceļvedis: monogrāfija / Dina Popluga [un vēl 6 autori]; galvenais redaktors: Kaspars Naglis-Liepa. Jelgava: Latvijas Biozinātņu un tehnoloģiju universitāte, 2024. 185 lpp. ISBN: 978-9984-48-434-1
3. OECD (2019), Inovācijas, lauksaimniecības produktivitāte un ilgtspējība Latvijā, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/279bde8c-lv.
4. Agriculture and rural development. Policy areas. [Tiešsaiste][skatīts 05.12.2022] Pieejams:
https://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/rural-development-2014-2020_en

5. KLP 2023-2027 [Tiešsaiste][skatīts 05.12.2022] Pieejams: https://www.zm.gov.lv/zemkopibas-ministrija/statiskas-lapas/klp-2023-2027?nid=3118#jump

Periodicals and other sources

Zinātniskā periodika: žurnāli “Jounal of Environmental management”, “Environmental Science and Policy”, “Journal of Cleaner Production”, “Journal of Rural Studies” u.c.

Notes

For 2nd year students of the academic bachelor's study program "Sustainable Agriculture" and professional bachelor's study program "Agriculture" in the 3rd semester in full-time studies and in the 4th semester in part-time studies of the Faculty of Agriculture, as well as for Erasmus students as an optional course in the autumn semester.

Atsauksmes