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Bioeconomics

Course developers

Prior knowledge

Ekon1012, Microeconomics

Ekon2109, Macroeconomics

Course abstract

The course provides knowledge of and builds up competence in the development of bioeconomy in the European Union and Latvia. The course explains the preconditions for emergence and necessity of bioeconomics. The course also deals with scientific findings necessary for understanding the development of bioeconomy, their incorporation in economic development policy documents and the achievement of the goals specified in the documents practically. At the same time, much attention is paid to analyses of the complexity of management in bioeconomy industries and the transformation of the national economy needed to reduce dependence on fossil resources and impacts on nature's ability to provide ecosystem services, which is of crucial importance not only for the sustainable development of the national economy but also for the persistence thereof.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

1. Knowledge of the concept, importance and development of bioeconomy, conditions of resource use, bioeconomy model - 1st test.
2. Knowledge of the basic knowledge of agrarian economy for the development of bioeconomy. EU and Latvian bioeconomy development policy. - 2nd test.
3. Knowledge of specific bioeconomy problems or innovation analysis possibilities – 1. independent work.
4. Knowledge about the impact of changes in agrarian and environmental policy on the development of economic processes of bioeconomy branches in the countryside - 3rd test.
5. Knows and understands the possibilities of more efficient use of bioresources in the bioeconomy, using innovative biotechnological principles in the production of products - 2nd independent work
6. Able to determine the principles and criteria for choosing an appropriate biotechnological method for the sustainable use of bioresources in the production of products - a case study.
7. Able to cooperate and develop independent conclusions and proposals about the impact of agrarian and environmental policy on the bioeconomy sector and rural development.
Able to methodologically correctly manage and analyze the economic processes of bioeconomy branches and rural development. - exam

Course Content(Calendar)

Kursa saturs (kalendārs) / Course Content (Calendar)
Full-time studies:
1. Concept and meaning of bioeconomy - 2 hours
2. Internalization of side effects - 2 hours
3. Ecosystem services - 1 hour
4. Ecosystem evaluation methods - 1 hour
5. Taxonomy of resources - 1 hour
6. Use of fossil resources - 1 hour
7. Bioeconomy of renewable resources - 2 hours
8. Concept and importance of agrarian economy in bioeconomy - 1 hour
9. Economic aspects of primary production of bioeconomy - 2 hours
10. Importance of bioeconomy in mitigating climate change - 1 hour
11. EU and Latvian bioeconomy development policy - 2 hours
12. The role of primary sectors of bioeconomy in rural development - 1 hour
13. Production resources in biomass production - 1 hour
14. Production value of primary branches of bioeconomy - 1 hour
15. Opportunities to increase added value - 1 hour
16. Impact of the EU climate change mitigation and adaptation policy on the primary sectors of the bioeconomy - 1 hour
17. Economic processes of primary branches of bioeconomy - 1 hour
18. Cooperation in bioeconomy - 1 hour
19. Economic models of the use of crop bioresources - 1 hour
20. Economic models of the use of livestock bioresources - 1 hour)
21. Economic models of the use of fishery bioresources - 1 hour
22. Economy of food production - 1 hour
23. Economic models of the use of forestry bioresources - 1 hour
24. Economics of biofuel, electricity and thermal energy production - 1 hour
25. Development of alternative production industries in the countryside - 1 hour
26. The role of science in the development of bioeconomy - 1 hour
27. Trade of products of bioeconomy branches - 1 hour

Part-time extramural studies:
All the topics intended for full-time studies are covered, yet the number of contact hours is ½ of the specified number of hours.

Requirements for awarding credit points

The study course requires cumulative assessment. The student must write 3 test papers, create, present and defend 2 independent papers and study one specific case, as well as an exam that includes answering theoretical questions and expressing a reasoned opinion.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

1. Independent work 1 (in accordance with the given description and topics) on bioeconomy problems or innovations, presentations and discussions
2. Independent work 2 on the impact of changes in agrarian and environmental policy on the bioeconomy sector and economic processes of rural development, presentations and discussions.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Test 1 - 10 points
Test 2 - 10 points
Test 3 - 10 points
Independent work 1 – 10 points
Independent work 2 - 10 points
Case study – 10 points
Exam – 40 points
10 points correspond to one point on the 10-point study results evaluation scale

Compulsory reading

1. Lewandowski, I. et.al. Bioeconomy: Shaping the Transition to a Sustainable, Biobased Economy. [tiešsaiste] Springer, 2018. p 354 p.
[skatīts 27.02.2023.] Pieejams: https://library.oapen.org/viewer/web/viewer.html?file=/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/27848/1002156.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/27848
2. Sillanpaa, M., Ncibi, C. A Sustainable Bioeconomy: The Green Industrial Revolution. Springer, 2018. p. 343 p.
3. LR ZM informatīvais ziņojums. Latvijas Bioekonomikas stratēģija 2030 (LIBRA). [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 27.02.2023.] Pieejams: https://www.llu.lv/sites/default/files/2018-07/Bioeconomy_Strategy_Latvia_LV.pdf
4. ES bioekonomikas stratēģija. Ilgstpējīga bioekonomika Eiropai. [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 27.02.2023.] Pieejams: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/edace3e3-e189-11e8-b690-01aa75ed71a1/language-en/format-PDF/source-149755478
5. Vide un ilgtspējīga attīstība. M.Kļaviņa, J.Zaļoksnis redakcijā – autoru kolektīvs. Rīga: LU akadēmiskais apgāds. 384 lpp.
6. Vide un ekonomika. Monogrāfija. Dz.Atstāja, Dž.Dimante, I.Brīvers u.c. Rīga,: LU, 2011. 256 lpp. as ar klimatam draudzīgu lauksaimniecību un mežsaimniecību Latvijā: monogrāfija. Autoru kolektīvs Rivža P. red. monogrāfijas autori Bērziņa Laima, Degola Lilija, Grīnberga Linda, Kaspars Naglis-Liepa u.c. Jelgava: Latvijas Lauksaimniecības universitāte. 2018. 304 lpp.
7. Siltumnīcefekta gāzu emisiju samazināšanas iespējas ar klimatam draudzīgu lauksaimniecību un mežsaimniecību Latvijā: monogrāfija. Autoru kolektīvs Rivža P. red. monogrāfijas autori Bērziņa Laima, Degola Lilija, Grīnberga Linda, Kaspars Naglis-Liepa u.c. Jelgava: Latvijas Lauksaimniecības universitāte. 2018. 304 lpp
8. Ustups D., Lēnerts A., Lupiķis A., Martinsons R., Naglis-Liepa K., Putnis I., u.c. (2018) Latvijas ekosistēmu dinamika klimata ietekmē. D.Ustups, A.Lēnerts, A.Lupiķis, R.Martinsons, K.Naglis-Liepa, I.Putnis u.c. Rīga: LU akadēmiskais apgāds. Rīga, 2018. 114 lpp.

Further reading

1. Tietenberg T., Lewis L. Environmental & Natural Resource Economics. Ninth edition. Pearson, 2012. Pp. 666 p.
2. Latvijas spēks ilgi pastāvēt: kolektīvā zinātniskā monogrāfija. B.Rivža (red.). Rīga: Latvijas Zinātņu akadēmija, 2022., 479 lpp.
3. Atjaunojamā enerģija un tās efektīva izmantošana Latvijā. M.Pelše, K.Naglis-Liepa, S.Zēverte-Rivža, V.Strīķis (autoru kolektīvs). Monogrāfija. Jelgava: LLU, 2012. 379. lpp.
4. Pelše M., Naglis-Liepa K., Strīķis V., Leikučs J. Atjaunojamās enerģijas izmantošanas ekonomiskais izvērtējums ilgtspējīgas attīstības kontekstā. LLU., Jelgava, 2012. 85 lpp.
5. Pilvere I., Upīte I., Tetere V. Protekcionisma instrumentu ietekme primāro un sekundāro sfēru ilgtspējīgā attīstībā. Zinātniska monogrāfija. Jelgava: LLU, EF, 2012. 191 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Zemkopības ministrijas nozares politika. Pieejams: https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/nozares-politika?utm_source=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
2. Resursu ekonomikas datu modelēšanas platforma. Pieejams: https://datam.jrc.ec.europa.eu/datam/mashup/BIOECONOMICS/index.htmlSEG un amonjaka emisiju aprēķins. Pieejams: https://www.vbf.llu.lv/lv/amonjaka-emisiju-kalkulators
3. LBTU pētījumi un materiāli. Klimatam draudzīga lauksaimniecība. Pieejams: https://www.llu.lv/lv/klimatam-draudziga-lauksaimnieciba
4. LBTU. bioekonomika. Pieejams: https://www.llu.lv/lv/bioekonomika
5. Valsts vides dienesta publisko datu reģistri. Pieejams: https://registri.vvd.gov.lv/
6. ES Zaļais kurs. Stratēģija, politika, aktualitātes. Pieejams: https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en

Notes

Course for the ESAF academic bachelor's study program "Economics"