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Unit Summary
Unit aim
Examines a range of alternative farming approaches and systems in relation to their geographical, social, economic and climatic context. Students will explore and critique a range of regenerative agricultural practices aimed at improving soil health and farm productivity, including agroecological design, organics, cropping, livestock management approaches and Indigenous agriculture. Key components of farming systems across different farming contexts will be evaluated.
Unit content
- Principles of regenerative agriculture in the Australian context
- Regenerative cropping systems
- Regenerative grazing systems
- Regenerative horticulture
- Organics and biodynamics
- Nutrient cycling and circular economies
Learning outcomes
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: | |
|---|---|
| 1 | explore and explain the underpinning principles and practices of regenerative agriculture, including agroecological design |
| 2 | evaluate the factors that can constrain or enable farming systems in relation to the principles of regenerative agriculture |
| 3 | critically evaluate a range of alternative farming systems, through practical experience in horticulture, integrated livestock, cropping, organics and permaculture |
| 4 | create a project relating to an alternative farming system as part of a team |
On completion of this unit, students should be able to:
- explore and explain the underpinning principles and practices of regenerative agriculture, including agroecological design
- evaluate the factors that can constrain or enable farming systems in relation to the principles of regenerative agriculture
- critically evaluate a range of alternative farming systems, through practical experience in horticulture, integrated livestock, cropping, organics and permaculture
- create a project relating to an alternative farming system as part of a team
Prescribed texts
- Bruce Pascoe, 2017, Dark Emu: Black Seeds: Agriculture or Accident? (This is a free, unlimited E book for SCU students), Magabala Books. ISBN: 1922142433.
- Gabe Brown, 2018, Dirt to Soil, Chelsea Green Publishing Company, US. ISBN: 9781603587631.
- No prescribed texts.