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Basics of Bioeconomics

Course developer

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. The course emphasises effective and successful bioeconomy solutions in various industries of the national economy.

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 EU and national bioeconomy development policies, biotechnologies in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, etc. (Test 2) Demonstrate the knowledge of the role of innovations in an enterprise in the field of the bioeconomy. (Independent work)
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 related to the development of the bioeconomy for an enterprise, 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 bioeconomy (1 hour).
2. Bioeconomics and circular economics (1 hour).
3. Elimination of external effects (1 hour).
4. Ecosystem services (1 hour).
5. EU bioeconomy development policy (2 hours).
6. Development of bioeconomy in Latvia (2 hours).
7. Bioeconomy and knowledge economy (1 hour).
8. Bioeconomic solutions in agriculture (1 hour).
9. Bioeconomic solutions in forestry (1 hour).
10. Bioeconomic solutions in energy production (1 hour).
11. Bioeconomic solutions in the use of seafood (1 hour).
12. Bioeconomic solutions for health and recreation (1 hour).
13. Bioeconomic solutions in cosmetics (1 hour).
14. Bioeconomic solutions in the chemical industry (1 hour).

Practical work (16 hours)
1. Use of economic terms, concepts in bioeconomy (1 hour).
2. Bioeconomy Objectives George-Rougen Bioeconomy Program (1 hour).
3. Value of resource use and economic sectors involved (2 hours).
4. Fossil resource potential calculation task (1 hour).
5. Test (1 hour).
6. Bioeconomics policy in Latvia (1 hour).
7. Analysis of examples of bioeconomy solutions in agriculture (1 hour).
8. Analysis of examples of bioeconomy solutions in forestry (1 hour).
9. Analysis of examples of bioeconomy solutions for the use of seafood products (1 hour).
10. Analysis of examples of bioeconomy health and recreation service solutions (1 hour).
11. Analysis of examples of bioeconomy cosmetic product solutions (1 hour).
12. Analysis of examples of bioeconomy chemical industry solutions (1 hour).
13. Test (1 hour).

14. Presentation of students' independent work (2 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

Analysis of bioeconomy development problems. The student must independently analyze a problem related to the development of the bioeconomy or its solution (innovation) and present the results to other students.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Formal test with a mark - accumulative assessment of study results (100%), it consists of:
Test 1 (Concept, meaning, development and resource use models of bioeconomy) - 30%,
Test 2 (EU and Latvian bioeconomy development policy, biotechnologies in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, etc.) - 30%,
Independent work (analysis of bioeconomy development problems) - 30%,
Preparation and activity in seminar classes (all topics) - 10%.

100% corresponds to a 10-point assessment scale.

Compulsory reading

1. Kļaviņa M., Zaļoksnis J. redakcijā - autoru kolektīvs. (2016) Vide un ilgtspējīga attīstība. Rīga: LU akadēmiskais apgāds. 384 lpp.
2. Autoru kolektīva Rivža P. red. (2018) Siltumnīcefekta gāzu emisiju samazināšanas iespējas ar klimatam draudzīgu lauksaimniecību un mežsaimniecību Latvijā: monogrāfija. Jelgava: Latvijas Lauksaimniecības universitāte. 304 lpp.
3. Lewandowski, I. et.al. (2018) Bioeconomy: Shaping the Transition to a Sustainable, Biobased Economy. Springer. pp. 354.

4. Sillanpaa, M., Ncibi, C. (2018) A Sustainable Bioeconomy: The Green Inustrial Revolution. Springer. pp. 343.

Further reading

1. Pelše M., Naglis-Liepa K., Strīķis V., Leikučs J. (2012) Atjaunojamās enerģijas izmantošanas ekonomiskais izvērtējums ilgtspējīgas attīstības kontekstā. LLU, Jelgava. 85 lpp.

2. Atstāja Dz., Dimante Dž., Brīvers I. u.c. (2011) Vide un ekonomika. Monogrāfija. Rīga, LU, 256 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

Compulsory course for ESAF first-level professional programme Business Studies