Course code VadZ6026

Credit points 3

Investment Projects in the Bio-Economy

Total Hours in Course81

Number of hours for lectures12

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes12

Independent study hours57

Date of course confirmation28.05.2019

Responsible UnitInstitute of Economics and Finance

Course developer

author Ekonomikas un finanšu institūts

Arnis Lēnerts

Dr. oec.

Prior knowledge

Ekon5095, Project Financial Management

Course abstract

The course provides students with the knowledge and understanding of the fact that the bioeconomy and its development is of great importance both in our country and around the world and human existence to ensure the products are used for the production of renewable resources. The main condition for a continuous development cycle to ensure a continuous development, which is impossible without attracting investments and their realization with project management-oriented approach.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Students will be able to demonstrate:
KNOWLEDGE of
1) the effects of change in agricultural and environmental policies on the agricultural economy, the bioeconomy and the circular economy. Independent work, a test.
2) the principles and criteria of biotechnologies used in investment projects in the bioeconomy sector. Discussion, a presentation.
3) project management methods, standards, analysis and planning methods for investments in the bioeconomy, the stakeholders, project monitoring methods and project closure methods. Formal test.
SKILLS
Professional skills to
1) independently analyse and compare bioeconomic project biotechnologies and assess their application.
Independent work, a case study.
2) identify principles and criteria for choosing a proper biotechnology method in order to implement a sustainable investment project. Practical individual/group assignments, a presentation.
Soft skills to
1) identify and analyse the causes of success and failure of bioeconomic investment projects, combine and synthesise various project implementation methods. Independent work.
2) develop communication skills needed for the profession. Practical assignments, discussion.
COMPETENCES to

Cooperate and come up with independent conclusions and proposals on the effects of agricultural and environmental policies on the implementation principles and criteria of investment projects, as well as technically correctly manage and analyse public sector investment projects in various bioeconomy industries. Cumulative assessment. Formal test.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Historical evolution of economic science and practice.
The historical evolution of economic science and practice. The key theories and definitions of the bioeconomy, the industries and processes it included. The reasons why the bioeconomy evolves and why it gradually replaces the traditional (fossil fuel-based) economy. References to the bioeconomy in the relevant guidelines and documents of the European Union. (1h - lecture)
2. Use of fossil resources.
The exhaustion of resources (Hotelling's approach), the nature, reasons and environmental impacts of cyclical use of resources, the specialization of the economy in the use of resources (Dutch disease), non-economic considerations of trade in resources (geography, infrastructure, policies). (0.5h - lecture, 1h - practical)
3. Agricultural economy.
The importance of agriculture, the types of agriculture, the stages of production, the cyclical nature of production, a description of agricultural policies; the goals, means, interconnections of scientific agricultural policies; economic mechanisms for the implementation of agricultural policies. Synergies between agricultural and environmental policies. (1h - lecture)
4. Bioeconomy - a factor of sustainable development.
The main paradigms of modern sustainability: sustainable use of natural resources; sustainable production; improvement in public health; climate change mitigation; balanced and integrated social development. Economic, social and ecological sustainability. (0.5h - lecture, 1h - practical)
5. Circular economy.
The cascade use of resources. The theoretical framework for a circular economy. Greenhouse gas production inventories. (1h - lecture, 1h - practical)
6. Agribusiness and value chains.
The definitions and characteristics, vertical structure, organizational forms (cooperatives) and supply chains of agribusiness, as well as the process and features of food supply chain formation. (1h - lecture, 1h - practical)
7. Output growth in rural areas.
The factors of production; land as the main factor of production in agriculture; capital, investment, the classification thereof. The exploitation of the factors of production, their returns. Quantitative and qualitative problems for output growth. Labour resources and their exploitation. Labour productivity and the factors and key ways of increasing it; social capital, entrepreneurship, communication skills; information (education, science, information technologies) as a factor of development; the nature, importance and classification of infrastructure in rural areas. (1h - lecture, 1h - practical)
8. Biotechnologies in agriculture.
Biotechnology in agriculture, innovation and bioproducts, which are the basis of the bioeconomy and ensure its development. Genetic crop modifications and their economic role. The latest methods in animal production, selection and feeding and their economic significance. Biomass production for renewable energy. (0.5h - lecture, 1h - practical)
9. Biotechnologies in forestry.
Biotechnologies in forestry: logging; woodworking; the further and complete processing and use of forest products. Innovation and bioproducts, the role of the bioeconomy. (0.5h - lecture, 1h -practical)
10. Most characteristic features of bioeconomy investment projects.
The classification of projects according to the characteristics of their implementation. The characteristics of bioeconomy investment projects, the peculiarities of their implementation. The bioindustry as an industry for project implementation opportunities. The use of renewable sources in projects, the promotion of their sustainability and cyclicality without losing the criteria specific to the projects. Agricultural project support funds. Opportunities for the implementation of agricultural projects for the use and production of renewable sources. (1h - lecture, 1h - practical)
11. Use of biotechnologies in project implementation.
The use of biotechnologies for the development and implementation of projects necessary to produce agricultural products. Project financing opportunities for the following fields: genetic crop modification, the latest techniques in animal breeding and selection, biomass production for renewable energy. The legal framework for industrial projects: EU regulations, the laws of the Republic of Latvia, the regulations of the Cabinet, binding local government regulations, standards, internal organization regulations. (1h - lecture, 1h - practical)
12. Distribution and use of investment project resources.
The main differences in resource planning when managing projects in the agri-environment. The project initiation phase, its significance and necessary initial activities. The main parameters and significance of the project planning phase. The project implementation phase, necessary resources, their planning, attraction and motivation. The final phase of a project, how to meet the sustainability parameters of the project after the supervision of the project is over. Project control and monitoring and the provision of feedback. (1h - lecture, 1h practical)
13. Investment project implementation criteria, their application to different types of projects.
The selection of project assessment criteria to assess the activities set to achieve the project goal and the amount of work to be performed. An assessment done by using the criteria selected to describe project implementation as accurately as possible and to highlight potential problems. Commonly used assessment criteria that could be used to assess specific projects in different project management fields. (1h - lecture, 1h - practical)
14. Adaptation of investment project implementation criteria to a specific project.
Effectiveness - the extent to which objectives are achieved at the time of completion of the project in relation to the objectives set. Productivity - the extent to which objectives are achieved cost in relation to project costs. Results - changes that occur after the completion of the project and are applicable to all stakeholders involved in the project. Consequences – the effects of the results. Investment - financial, material, institutional, human resources. Sustainability - the effects on the economic, social and natural environment after the completion of the project. (1h - lecture, 1h - practical)

Requirements for awarding credit points

In the theoretical classes of the course, students learn the process of changes in agricultural and environmental policies and the impacts of the policies on the bioeconomy sector and rural economic development. In practicals, students analyse the principles and assessment criteria for a sustainable bioeconomy investment project. Students must take a test to assess the extent to which they have completed their independent work.
During the group work in practicals, students analyse a comparison of biotechnology principles and criteria for the implementation of a sustainable investment project by doing a case study. The results acquired are summarized and presented. The course ends with a test covering all the topics.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

1) Students get acquainted with and study the literature on changes in agricultural and environmental policies, as well as on the possibilities of more complete and efficient use of bioresources when implementing an investment project in the bioeconomy.
2) During the course, a theoretical bioeconomy investment project is developed independently by using the knowledge acquired of the use of appropriate biotechnologies. The results of the case study are presented in practicals.
3) Students acquire information and build up an understanding of the discussion topics of bioeconomy investment projects for practicals.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The final mark consists of the following pieces of assessment: a multichoice test 40%; a case study of a bioeconomy investment project and a presentation of the results 20%; independent work on changes in agricultural and environmental policies 20%; the student’s activity in discussions and debates in practicals 20%.

Compulsory reading

1. Vide un ilgtspējīga attīstība. Kļaviņš M., Zaļoksnis J. Rīga: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2010, 334 lpp. ISBN 978-9984-45-220-3
2. Biotehonomika. Blumberga D., Barisa A., kubule A. Rīga: RTU, 2016 340 lpp.
3. Maley Claude H. Project Management Concepts, Methods, and Techniques (ESI International Project Management Series) Series: ESI International Project Management Series (Book 9), Auerbach Publications; 1 edition, 2012, 482 pages, ISBN-10: 1466502886.

Further reading

1. Siltumnīcefekta gāzu emisiju samazināšanas iespējas ar klimatam draudzīgu lauksaimniecību un mežsaimniecību Latvijā. Rivžas P. red. Jelgava: LLU, 2018, 277 lpp. ISBN 978-9984-48-308-5
2. Bioenerģētikas horizonti. Dubrovskis V., Adamovičs A. Jelgava: LLU, 2012 351 lpp. ISBN 978-9984-48-067-1.

3. Blumberga D., Veidenbergs I., Romagnoli F., Rochas C., Žandeckis A. (2011) Bioenerģijas tehnoloģijas. Monogrāfija. Rīga: RTU Vides aizsardzības un siltuma sistēmu institūts.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Ziņojumi par Latvijas tautsaimniecības attīstību. Rīga: LR Ekonomikas ministrija.
2. Lauksaimniecības gada ziņojumi. Rīga: LR Zemkopības ministrija.

3. AS "Latvijas Valsts meži" normatīvie akti.

Notes

Compulsory course for the ESAF professional master programme Project Management