Rhedir gan School of Natural Sciences

20.000 Credyd neu 10.000 Credyd ECTS

Semester 1

Trefnydd: Prof Dave Chadwick

Around 75% of the UK land area is used for agriculture and hence farming systems and practices can have profound effects of the environment and biodiversity. It is now recognised that many of the farming practices adopted in the 1980’s and early 1990’s, aimed at maximising production and profit, have had adverse effects including water and air pollution, soil degradation, loss of certain habitats and decreased biodiversity.

However, agriculture is also an important industry that provides food and employment for people and that shapes that rural landscape. Farmers must balance the need to operate a profitable business with sustainable land management practices. As concerns about climate change, an increasing population and future food security increase, so attention is being re-focused on agricultural production systems.

This module reviews agricultural systems and practices, the scientific principles underlying them and their impact on the environment.

It then considers the scope of relevant EU and UK government legislation and codes of practice aimed at minimising negative effects, including the role of agri-environment schemes and discuses their impact at the farm level. The role of the different agencies involved is also explored.

This module reviews agricultural systems and practices, the scientific principles underlying them, their impact on the environment, and potential future trends induced by climate change. Students are introduced to life cycle assessment as a method to integrate environmental impacts and production efficiency when comparing systems. It then considers the scope of relevant EU and UK government legislation and codes of practice aimed at minimising negative effects, including the role of agri-environment schemes and discusses their impact at the farm level. The role of the different agencies involved is also explored.

• Introduction to farming systems in the UK: crop areas and livestock numbers; land capability classification, land tenure; upland and lowland farming systems; organic, conventional and integrated farm management systems. Historical trends in land use and their impact on the landscape. Goods and services provided by agricultural systems.
• Crop management: principles and practices involved in the use of pesticides and fertilizers, their fate in the environment and their impact on biodiversity and water quality. Statutory and voluntary measures to minimise negative effects. Water Framework Directive.
• Livestock production systems. Impact of grazing management in the hills and uplands. Application of life cycle assessment to benchmark the environmental intensity of production on livestock farms.
• Food security
• Plant breeding, including recent developments in technology
• Water and agriculture: Effects of drought; irrigation; salinity, sodicity and waterlogging
• Climate change: contribution of agriculture to climate change; impact of climate change on agriculture. Carbon footprinting.
• EU support for agriculture: single farm payment, agri-environment schemes. Environmental impact of conventional, low input and organic farming systems.

trothwy

The student demonstrates a broadly correct understanding of how agricultural practices impact on the environment, and vice versa, the scientific and technical processes involved. Alternative practices are reviewed. Relevant legislation is identified. The assessment may contain some minor inaccuracies, misunderstandings or misconceptions. There is little evidence of supplementary reading.

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The student demonstrates a competent understanding of the subject. The assessment covers relevant topics and reference is made to key scientific principles and commercial practices where appropriate. Clear links are established between faming practices, scientific principles, environmental impacts and legislation where appropriate. There is evidence of supplementary reading and information retrieval.

ardderchog

The student demonstrates a very thorough understanding of the subject, and an ability to critically evaluate and prioritise information where appropriate. Relevant topics are reviewed in a logical sequence and assessments contain relevant new material not covered in the course.

1. Relate farming systems and practices to their environmental impacts and discuss how adverse effects may be mitigated.

2. Discuss the scope and implementation of official legislation, environmental schemes, regulations and ‘good farming practice’ and their role in controlling the adverse environmental impacts of farming practices

Math	Enw	Disgrifiad	Pwysau
	Critical essay on press articles		20.00
	Exam with seen questions		50.00
	Presentation		30.00

		Oriau
Private study	Private and guided self-study	138
Lecture	14*3 hour, 2 x 2 hour lectures	46
Fieldwork	2 3-hour, 1 4 hour and 1 6-hour field and farm visits (including Henfaes). These visits are contingent on COVID-19 rules at the time. Alternative video footage and interviews with stakeholders will be provided if face-to-face visits are not permitted, with discussion sessions on each.	16

• Llythrennedd - Medrusrwydd mewn darllen ac ysgrifennu drwy amrywiaeth o gyfryngau
• Rhifedd - Medrusrwydd wrth ddefnyddio rhifau ar lefelau priodol o gywirdeb
• Defnyddio cyfrifiaduron - Medrusrwydd wrth ddefnyddio ystod o feddalwedd cyfrifiadurol
• Hunanreolaeth - Gallu gweithio mewn ffordd effeithlon, prydlon a threfnus. Gallu edrych ar ganlyniadau tasgau a digwyddiadau, a barnu lefelau o ansawdd a phwysigrwydd
• Adalw gwybodaeth - Gallu mynd at wahanol ac amrywiol ffynonellau gwybodaeth
• Sgiliau Rhyngbersonol - Gallu gofyn cwestiynau, gwrando'n astud ar atebion a'u harchwilio
• Dadansoddi Beirniadol & Datrys Problem - Gallu dadelfennu a dadansoddi problemau neu sefyllfaoedd cymhleth. Gallu canfod atebion i broblemau drwy ddadansoddiadau ac archwilio posibiliadau
• Ymwybyddiaeth o ddiogelwch - Bod yn ymwybodol o'ch amgylchedd a hyder o ran cadw at reoliadau iechyd a diogelwch
• Cyflwyniad - Gallu cyflwyno gwybodaeth ac esboniadau yn glir i gynulleidfa. Trwy gyfryngau ysgrifenedig neu ar lafar yn glir a hyderus.
• Dadl - Gallu cyflwyno, trafod a chyfiawnhau barn neu lwybr gweithredu, naill ai gydag unigolyn neu mewn grwˆp ehangach

Goblygiadau o ran adnoddau ar gyfer myfyrwyr

Additional information will be provided through Blackboard links to official and industry websites

Rhestrau Darllen Bangor (Talis)

http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/dxx-4042.html

Gorfodol mewn cyrsiau:

• D9AN: MSc Conservation and Land Management year 1 (MSC/CLM)
• D9AZ: MSc Conservation and Land Management (TRANSFOR-M exch prog) year 1 (MSC/CLMTFM)
• D5AB: MSc Sustainable Forest and Nature Management year 2 (MSC/SFNM)

Opsiynol mewn cyrsiau:

• D4BA: MSc Agroforestry and Food Security year 1 (MSC/AGFS)
• D4BB: MSc Agroforest & Food Security (Dist Learn) year 1 (MSC/AGFSDL)
• D4BC: MSc Agroforestry & Food Security (Dist Learning - 2 yr PT) year 1 (MSC/AGFSDL2)
• D4BD: MSc Agroforestry and Food Security (TRANSFOR-M exch prog) year 1 (MSC/AGFSTFM)