Module: Principles of Organic Food Systems (3405-500)

Persons:

• Dr. Sabine Zikeli (verantwortlich)

Degree Program:

• Organic Agriculture and Food Systems (Master, since 01.10.2014)
  1. Semester, compulsory

Prerequisites for Attendance:

Only for students enrolled in the Double Degree M.Sc. Programme "EUR Organic"

Sprache:

English

ECTS:

6 credits

Frequency:

every winter semester

Length of the Module:

1 semester

Final examination:

Field course 80% (Presentation during the excursion 25%, farming system report 25%, individual homework 50%), seminar during the semester 20%

Workload:

56 h presence + 104 h preparation at home + exam = 160 h workload

Professional competences:

After completing this module, students understand the background, the principles and the history of Organic Farming. They are familiar with a systems approach to deal with inter- and transdisciplinary research questions in Organic Farming and in the organic sector. Moreover, the students acquire an understanding of the relationship between Organic Farming and society as well as between Organic Farming and the environment.
Through farm visits and interviews with farmers, students gain first information on qualitative methods of data collection and data assessement as well as to the application of system analysis for data interpretation.

Key competences:

Through the compilation and interpretation of information from stakeholder interviews during the excursions, students practice and improve their capability to explore settings from agricultural practice and food processing and their link to science.
During preparation for exams and while preparing and following up on lectures, students learn to manage time, to cooperate and work independently. They learn and practice both critical and analytical thinking and reading of scientific literature, while writing essays enhances their scientific articulateness.
Students are furthermore introduced to the use of media (fotographs, audio documents, films) in scientific data collection and documentation.

Comments:

(previously: 3405-480 Start-Up Module EUROrganic)

eLearning:

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