ADMRAS: Rethinking Agricultural Systems

Module code: ADMRAS

Module provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Andrew Ainslie, email: a.m.ainslie@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module will develop your knowledge of contemporary agricultural systems by integrating ecology and environmental science with social, economic and policy-governance considerations. You will learn about the state of twenty-first century agriculture in different parts of the world, and in a range of ecological and socioeconomic contexts, including in both High Income Countries (HICs) and Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Through a series of lectures led by subject specialists, as well as seminars, discussions and study visits, you will learn to critically evaluate the many interconnected issues relevant to the changing role and impact of global agriculture (including horticulture and livestock production).By providing opportunities to discuss and debate some of the major contemporary issues in sustainable agriculture, the module will help you to put your subsequent independent research project in its wider societal context.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Locate, access and summarise research material pertinent to contemporary debates on sustainability in agricultural systems. 
2. Synthesise research sources from a range of scientific disciplines (environmental, social, economic, policy-governance and science and technology studies) and present critical and coherent arguments relating to key issues in agricultural sustainability. 
3. Demonstrate the ability to critically analyse, evaluate and discuss the factors that promote or hinder agricultural and horticultural development at a range of levels and scales in agricultural systems globally.  

Module content

The module will consist of lectures, debates and discussions covering a range of current issues in agriculture and horticulture, and the challenges of achieving sustainable food production. It will cover topics such as the sustainable use of resources (e.g. water, soils), alternative and novel production practices including precision agriculture, Conservation Agriculture and Agro-ecology, as well as genetically-modified organisms and plant breeding; the management of pests through Integrated Pest Management; the impacts and need for ecosystem services, including pollination; the contemporary status and relevance of the Green Revolution; impacts and adaptation of agriculture to climate variability and climate change; the relevance of agriculture in economic development, poverty alleviation and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The module will highlight the need and scope for sustainable intensification of food production systems in order to meet the needs of a growing global population, while highlighting the global integration of food systems and the challenges this presents in terms of complexity and the trading of resources across distances. It will ask how state, private and civil sectors can co-operate to support food and agricultural development in the public interest. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Lecturers and seminars with guest speakers will introduce different themes and present relevant research literature. Seminar style debates will be used to explore the issues and discuss implications for policy and practice.  

Study hours

At least 44 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs