Agro-Industrial Production

Objectives

To be able to understand the integrated dimension of the agro-industrial production chain.

To understand the importance of agro-industry in human diet.

To know the main threats to agro-industry, from climate changes to the pollution of agro-ecosystems.

To recognize that food safety is compatible with environmental-friendly sustainable practices.

To recognize the potential of agro-industrial wastes (currently seen as low value materials) as bio-resource to produce value added products

General characterization

Code

11746

Credits

6.0

Responsible teacher

Fernando Henrique da Silva Reboredo

Hours

Weekly - 4

Total - 96

Teaching language

Português

Prerequisites

Available soon

Bibliography

1. Maertens, M. & Swinnen J. (2015) Agricultural trade and development. WTO Working Paper ERSD-2015-04

2. Basch, G., Kassam, A., González-Sánchez, E. J. & Streit, B. 2012. Making sustainable agriculture real in CAP 2020. The role of conservation agriculture. The European Conservation Agriculture Federation (ECAF), Brussels, 48 pg., ISBN: 978-84-615-8106-1

3. Da Silva, C. A., Baker, D., Shepherd, A. W., Jenane, C. & Miranda-da-Cruz, S. (Ed). 2009. Agro-industries for Development, CABI Publishers, 278 pg., ISBN: 978-1-84593-576-4

4. Nigam, P.S. & Pandey, A. (Ed). 2009. Biotechnology for agro-industrial residues utilisation: Utilisation of agro-residues, Springer-Verlag, 466 pg., ISBN: 978-1-4020-9941-0

5. Robinson, G. M. (ed). 2008. Sustainable Rural Systems: Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Communities. Ashgate Publishing Limited, 210 pg., ISBN: 978-0-7546-4715-7

Teaching method

Theoretical lectures are held using data-show and e-learning methods (use of the Moodle platform). Theoretical-practical sessions consist of analysis and interpretation of case studies. The projects and/or works begin in theoretic-practical sessions through online research about the issues related with the Curricular Unit (CU), existing thereafter a continuous orientation by the Responsible. Students will have access to all the bibliography and materials (power-points, PDFs) used in the CU which will be put on a web-platform. The theoretical and theoretic-practical lectures are complemented with personalized attention in Tutorial classes, although the Responsible by the CU is always available for doubts and guidance aspects.

Assessment is continuous, consisting of 3 elements, with a minimum grade of approval (9.5 scale of 20 marks) for each component – the weight of  theoretical component is 50% and theoretic-practical 50%.

Evaluation method

Continuous assessment in two components: theoretical (1 individual Test -  50% of the final classification) and theoretical-practical: (work development and oral presentation and discussion - 40%+10% of the final classification).

Final rating: (0.50*Test) + (0.40*Written work) + (0.10*Oral presentation and discussion of written work). Approval requires a minimum score of 9.5 (scale of 20 values) for each component (theoretical-practical and theoretical).

Students without approval in the continuous assessment will be submitted to exam. Rating equal to 0.5*Exam+0.5*classification of theoretical-practical. Approval with a minimum grade of 9.5 (scale of 20 values)

Test - 4 December 2019

Submission of Work Summary - 11 December 2019

Power Point Work Delivery - 17 December

Power Point Presentation / Discussion (20 min) - 18 December 2019

Students who do not meet the deadlines will be penalized in the assessment, and work´s delivery  more than one week late, will not be accepted.

Subject matter

The agro-industry and the global economy

The economic importance of plant and animal production. From production to the marketing.

The importance of quality and food safety

Recovery and utilization of agro-industrial wastes.

The main threats to agro-industrial sustainability – climate changes, soil availability, loss of soil fertility and soil erosion, pollution of agro-ecosystems, among others.

European programs of agro-industrial development and environmental-friendly measures

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: