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Unit of Study AGRC1002 - Farming Systems (2020)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Enrolment information

    There will be a 2-day compulsory residential for Online students. Please refer to http://scu.edu.au/timetables for further information on timetables.

Unit description

Introduces the global extent and impact of food production systems through human history. Reviews different approaches to food production since the advent of agriculture. Presents a classification of food production systems, including industrial; conventional; traditional; organic; and agroecology. Focusses on sustainability challenges of feeding the growing population. Introduces the concept of regenerative agriculture and the world of complex systems.

Unit content

  • A complex systems view of food production
  • A long history of farming
  • The industrial agriculture phase
  • The (re)emergence of alternative agriculture and regenerative farming
  • The self as an integral element of the complexity paradigm
  • The role of the farmer in farming systems
  • Ecological dimensions of farming
  • Agroecology in action
  • Looking back and looking forward.

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Online
Session1
N/A

Learning outcomes and graduate attributes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

GA1: Intellectual rigour, GA2: Creativity, GA3: Ethical practice, GA4: Knowledge of a discipline, GA5: Lifelong learning, GA6: Communication and social skills, GA7: Cultural competence
Learning outcome count Learning outcome description GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 discuss the attributes of complex systems in the context of food production
2 describe the social, cultural and environmental characteristics of different food production systems over time
3 discuss some of the complex influences on farmer decision-making
4 identify strategies for achieving a more sustainable food production system

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. discuss the attributes of complex systems in the context of food production
    • GA4:
    • GA7:
  2. describe the social, cultural and environmental characteristics of different food production systems over time
    • GA4:
    • GA7:
  3. discuss some of the complex influences on farmer decision-making
    • GA3:
  4. identify strategies for achieving a more sustainable food production system
    • GA4:

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • Prescribed text information is not currently available.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.