Course code Ekon2100

Credit points 3

Bioeconomics I

Total Hours in Course81

Number of hours for lectures16

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes16

Independent study hours49

Date of course confirmation19.11.2019

Responsible UnitInstitute of Economics and Finance

Course developer

author Ekonomikas un finanšu institūts

Kaspars Naglis-Liepa

Dr. oec.

Prior knowledge

Ekon1012, Microeconomics

Ekon2109, Macroeconomics

Course abstract

The course provides students with knowledge of the development of the bioeconomy in the European Union and Latvia in particular. Students build up an understanding of the necessity of and preconditions for bioeconomy development. Students learn to identify and analyse challenges for exploitation of renewable bioresources and non-renewable resources, ecological and social system constraints. The course emphasises the role of innovation in bioeconomy development and the latest trends in this field.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge.
Students will be able to:
demonstrate the knowledge of the concept, role and development of the bioeconomy, fossil resource use conditions and the bioeconomy pattern (Test 1). Demonstrate the knowledge of the agricultural economics development paradigm, biotechnologies in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and the EU and national bioeconomy development policies. (Test 2).
Skills.
Apply the knowledge acquired and explain conditions for use of fossil and biological resources. Cooperate in a group (Assignments and discussions in seminars, independent work)
Define, find and describe urgent solutions to some bioeconomy development problem. Present the results of independent work, the results of calculations. (Independent work)
Competence.

Integrate bioeconomic findings into the current paradigm and use them to create original solutions. (Independent work, tests).

Course Content(Calendar)

Lectures (16 hours).
1. The concept and meaning of bioeconomics (1 hour).
2. Historical development of bioeconomics idea (1 hour).
3. Elimination of externalities (1 hour).
4. Ecosystem services (1 hour).
5. Ecosystem assessment methods (1 hour).
6. Resource taxonomy (1 hour).
7. Use of renewable resources (1 hour).
8. Concept and types of agricultural economy (1 hour).
9. The main economic concepts of agrarian economy (2 hours).
10. Bioetechnologies in agriculture (1 hour).
11. Bioetechnologies in forestry (1 hour).
12. EU bioeconomy development policy (1 hour).
13. Development of Latvia's bioeconomy (1 hour).
14. Development of bioeconomy innovation (1 hour).
15. Integrated land management (1 hour).

Seminars (16 hours).
1. Introduction. The concept and meaning of bioeconomics (1 hour).
2. Identification and prevention of externalities (1 hour).
3. Resource taxonomy (1 hour).
4. Oil stocks and depleting (1 hour).
5. Bioeconomy model (1 hour).
6. Test (1 hour).
7. Paradigms of agricultural production (1 hour).
8. Coordination of agricultural development goals (2 hours).
9. Ecosystem services (1 hour).
10. Evaluation of ecosystem services (1 hour).
11. Bioeconomy innovations (1 hour).
12. Test (1 hour).

13. Presentations and discussions of students independent works (3 hours).

Requirements for awarding credit points

It is necessary to successfully write two tests on the topics acquired in the study course. A small study on a bioeconomy problem or innovation should be independently researched and presented. The student must prepare and actively participate in seminar classes.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Independent work - Analysis of bioeconomy development problems. Students do and present small research about some bioeconomy problem or innovation

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Formal test with a mark - Cumulative score (100 %)
Test 1 - Concept, role, development of and resource use patterns in the bioeconomy – 30%,
Test 2 - Agricultural economics development paradigm and the EU and national bioeconomy development policies – 30%,
Independent work - Analysis of bioeconomy development problems -30%,
Preparation for and activity in seminārs - All the topics – 10%.

A score of 100% is equal to a 10-point

Compulsory reading

1. Tietenberg T., Lewis L.(2012) Environmental & Natural Resource Economics. Ninth edition. Pearson. Pp. 666.
2. Lewandowski, I. et.al. (2018) Bioeconomy: Shaping the Transition to a Sustainable, Biobased Economy. Springer. pp. 354.
3. Sillanpaa, M., Ncibi, C. (2018) A Sustainable Bioeconomy: The Green Inustrial Revolution. Springer. pp. 343.
4. Kļaviņa M., Zaļoksnis J. redakcijā - autoru kolektīvs. (2016) Vide un ilgtspējīga attīstība. Rīga: LU akadēmiskais apgāds. 384 lpp.
5. Atstāja Dz., Dimante Dž., Brīvers I. u.c. (2011) Vide un ekonomika. Monogrāfija. Rīga, LU, 256 lpp.
6. Blumbergas A. redakcijā - autoru kolektīvs. (2010) Sistēmdinamika vides inženierzinātņu studentiem. Rīga. RTU Vides aizsardzības un siltuma sistēmu institūts, 318 lpp
7. Pelše M., Naglis-Liepa K., Strīķis V., Leikučs J. (2012) Atjaunojamās enerģijas izmantošanas ekonomiskais izvērtējums ilgtspējīgas attīstības kontekstā. LLU, Jelgava. 85 lpp.
8. Autoru kolektīva Rivža P. red. (2018) Siltumnīcefekta gāzu emisiju samazināšanas iespējas ar klimatam draudzīgu lauksaimniecību un mežsaimniecību Latvijā: monogrāfija; monogrāfijas autori Bērziņa Laima, Degola Lilija, Grīnberga Linda, Kaspars Naglis-Liepa u.c. Jelgava: Latvijas Lauksaimniecības universitāte. 304 lpp.
9. Ustups, D., Lēnerts, A., Lupiķis, A., Martinsons, R., Naglis-Liepa, K., Putnis, I., u.c. (2018) Latvijas ekosistēmu dinamika klimata ietekmē. LU akadēmiskais apgāds. Rīga. 114 lpp.

10. Pelše M., Naglis-Liepa K., Zēverte-Rivža S., Strīķis V. (autoru kolektīvs) (2012) Atjaunojamā enerģija un tās efektīva izmantošana Latvijā. Monogrāfija. Jelgava: LLU, 379.lpp.

Further reading

1. Adamovičs A., Balodis O., Bartuševics J., Gaile Z., Komlajeva Ļ., Poiša L. (2012) Enerģētisko augu audzēšanas un izmantošanas tehnoloģijas. No: Atjaunojamā enerģija un tās efektīva izmantošana Latvijā. Monogrāfija. Rivžas P. red. Jelgava, LLU, 38.–113. lpp. ISBN 978-9984-48-085-5.
2. Dubrovskis V., Adamovičs A. (2012) Bioenerģētikas horizonti. Jelgava: LLU, 351 lpp. ISBN 978-9984-48-067-1.

3. Pilvere I., Upīte I., Tetere V. (2012) Protekcionisma instrumentu ietekme primāro un sekundāro sfēru ilgtspējīgā attīstībā. Zinātniska monogrāfija. Jelgava: LLU, EF, 191 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Zemkopības ministrijas mājaslapa: http://www.zm.gov.lv
2. Klimatam draudzīga lauksaimniecība: https://www.llu.lv/lv/klimatam-draudziga-lauksaimnieciba
3. LLU bioekonomika: https://www.llu.lv/lv/bioekonomika

4. Latvijas Bioekonomikas stratēģija: https://www.llu.lv/sites/default/files/2018-07/Bioeconomy_Strategy_Latvia_LV.pdf

Notes

Restricted elective course for ESAF academic bachelor programme Economics