Agro-Environmental Systems Management

Undergraduate Studies

BSc Agro-Environmental Systems Management

The overall aim of the Agro-Environmental Systems Management (AESM) program is to provide high quality and professionally relevant undergraduate modules to transfer scientific and technical knowledge as well as practical skills. Program graduates benefit from a wide-ranging, critical understanding of the areas of agriculture and precision agriculture, the environment, sustainable crop and soil management, as well as human and animal nutrition and consumer issues as they relate to the AESM disciplines.

The goals of the Agro-Environmental Systems Management program (with specializations in Precision Agriculture and Livestock Management) are to enable the student to:

Acquire critical thinking and research skills in order to pursue post-graduate studies and/or a career in agriculture, environmental management or livestock management;
Develop an understanding of the fundamentals and principles of various forms of agro-environmental systems management;
Acquire knowledge of cutting edge technology for optimum crop, soil and animal management, and for the production of quality products and business sustainability;
Develop a thorough awareness of the basic aspects of the agro-environmental complexities and apply holistic approaches for sustainable agriculture;
Gain an awareness of the significance of the modification of the agro-environment, and the impact of proposed changes;
Develop awareness and sensibility regarding animal and plant welfare and their environments;
Gain hands-on experience in work and professional fields connected to the individual student’s academic and career aspirations;
Cultivate the qualities of character necessary to function maturely and responsibly in a work-related environment.
Effectively collaborate with others in the problem-solving process;
Develop the ability to conduct research and report on one’s finding clearly, honestly and accurately;
Identify and meet professional and educational goals;
Assume leadership roles in completing individual and group tasks; and
Work effectively in team oriented activities.

Infrastructure and research

Student Handbook

Specializations

Precision Agriculture

Precision Agriculture, which has been called the greatest technological advancement in agriculture since the invention of the tractor, is the integrated use of cutting-edge technology and information-based, decision-making agricultural systems and methodologies. This innovative and holistic approach has as its primary aim the improvement and optimization of farm production processes and costs, by precisely managing crop and soil variability in space and time for each significant production input, in order to ensure optimum and highly efficient agricultural production, while at the same time promoting sustainable use of natural resources and agroecosystem (environmental) protection.

Students who pursue this specialization will learn how to use advanced technologies (hardware and software) for site-specific soil and plant management, Global Position Systems (GPS) and Geographical information Systems (GIS), specific sensors, UAV’s (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), for crop and soil mapping techniques, and computerized farm machinery.

Sample courses in this specialization include the following:

Environmental soil science
Field Crops production
Weed science
Principles of Precision agriculture for environmental sustainability
Research Methods-Statistics
Precision Agriculture Applications
Waste management
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Agriculture & the Environment
Soil & WaterResource Management
Ecological Agriculture
Dissertation (BSc Thesis writing)

Graduates with a specialization in Precision Agriculture are eligible to continue studying at the post-graduate level or directly enter the job market, working with firms and institutions that focus on farm products, agro-environmental consulting and waste management. In addition, as this new field expands, many opportunities in various areas of research are opening up, including projects connected to: land use practices for crop production, erosion control, environmental protection, reclamation of contaminated soils, transport of pesticides through soils, bioremediation of hazardous wastes, soil/landscape development processes, use of microbes in weed and plant disease control, surface chemistry of soil minerals, modeling of soil & cropping systems, remote sensing of soils and vegetation; precision irrigation and fertilization methods, and the impact of global climate and environmental changes.

Teaching and research Infrastructure

All Laboratories are used for teaching, research studies and demonstration:

Precision Agriculture Laboratory - Sustainable agronomic practices, use of cutting-edge technologies for Precision Agriculture applications, basis soil & water analyses and soil mapping.
Ecological Agriculture Laboratory (in field) - Ecological management of farms and soil quality improvement for production of biological products
Horticulture Laboratory (Glass-house, Greenhouse) - Hydroponic plant systems, plant propagation, special plants.
Horticulture Laboratory (Shadehouse – covered and shaded only plastic greenhouse) - Production of plants in pots and soil, under shaded conditions. Specialty plants.
Field Crops Laboratory (in field- AGROcenter) - Agronomic practices (soil management-irrigation, fertility) with field crops
Production of aromatic and medicinal plants and essential oil extraction
Educational- Research Olive grove (in field) - Modern olive production systems. High and super-high planting densities adapted to fully mechanical harvesting.
Krinos Olive Center (Room) - Cold olive oil press, processing and storage, chemical analyses, sensory analysis of olive oil and table olives. Special seminars.

Main research thematic areas

Research studies in τhe Dept. of AESM are conducted in the area of sustainable production management systems using modern technologies and in parallel applies holistic approaches in the «soil-crop-environment» continuum. Specιαl emphasis is given in use of low production inputs, ecological management of farms and new plant systems and management practices.

Livestock Management

This specialization enables students to acquire practical animal husbandry skills and learn the main production parameters of animal nutrition, reproduction, selection, installations, health and welfare. At the same time it provides students with a firm knowledge base in scientific principles and how to apply these principles to the management of livestock. Throughout the course, students will have increasing opportunity to explore specific areas of their own interest, ultimately leading to their dissertation.

Sample of specific courses in this specialization include the following:

Research Methods-Statistics
Introduction to Livestock Science
Animal Welfare
Nutrition and Contemporary Feeding Systems for Ruminants
Breeding and Genetic Improvement of Farm Animals
Management of Livestock and Production
Current Issues
Nutrition and Contemporary Feeding Systems for Monogastrics
Livestock Installations and Hygiene
Dissertation (BSc Thesis writing)

Graduates who specialize in Livestock Management may continue their studies at the post-graduate level or directly enter the job market in fields related to the care and management farm animals, as well as in positions connected to the larger field of animal husbandry, such as research support technicians, nutritional advisors, conservation officers, veterinary sales representatives, etc. The food industry also requires managers who are familiar with the technology of animal production and who are responsive to public and consumer concerns. Graduates from this pathway will be able to assume leadership roles as technical consultants to meet increased global requirements for meat and milk production, and deal with increased emphasis on animal product quality and possible health benefits for the consumer.

Modules

LEVEL 4 MODULES

1. Introduction to ICT systems for agriculture and environment

2. Principles of Microbiology & chemistry

3. Environmental Technology and Agricultural Machinery

4. Agricultural/Applied Economics

5. Learning Methods

6. Management - Business administration

7. Agricultural Marketing

8. Introduction to Agro-Environmental Systems

9. Fruit tree production

10. Crop nutrition & Soil fertility

11. Viticulture

12. Entomology

LEVEL 5 MODULES

1. Principles of Precision Agriculture and Environmental Sustainability

2. Field Crop Production

3. Introduction to Livestock Science (common module)

4. Weed Science and Management

5. Botany and Plant propagation

6. Environmental Soil Science

7. Plant Physiology (Precision Agriculture Specialization)

8. Principles of Genetics and Plant Breeding,

9. Principles of Plant Pathology

10. Waste Management

11. Olive Production Systems (Precision Agriculture Specialization)

12. Nutrition and Contemporary Feeding Systems for Ruminants (Livestock Management Specialization)

13. Research Methods-Statistics

14. Animal Welfare (Livestock Management Specialization)

LEVEL 6 MODULES

Common Modules (in both pathways/specializations):

1. GIS in Agriculture and the Environment

2. Greenhouse Technology and Management

3. Sustainable Rural Development

4. BSc Thesis (Dissertation) 30 credits (common)

Precision Agriculture Specialization:

1. Soil and Water Resource Management

2. Horticultural Science

3. Precision Agriculture Applications

4. Post Harvest and Olive Processing

5. Medicinal & aromatic plant production

6. Ecological agriculture

Livestock Management Specialization:

1. Breeding and Genetic Improvement of Farm Animals

2. Nutrition and Contemporary Feeding Systems for Monogastrics

3. Management of Livestock and Production

4. Livestock Installations & Hygiene

5. Current issues

Program Outcomes

Program outcomes

Students in any of the two pathways (Precision Agriculture and Livestock Production) of the BSc (Hons/Ord) Agro-Environmental Systems Management (ASM) program will be able to:

Demonstrate knowledge of production of food and non-food products from land resources, and agro-ecosystem sustainability
Discuss the principles of land and crop management in a systems (holistic) approach, considering environmental interactions and multiple effects
Relate the management practices with critical financial, social and environmental issues in the context of world and EU forthcoming legislation (reformed Common Agricultural Policy-CAP) and the climate change impact.

Knowledge and understanding

Students pursuing a BSc (Hons) in Agro Environmental Systems Management (ASM) program will also be able to:

demonstrate an in-depth knowledge in the selected field;
critically evaluate contemporary approaches and technologies as well as innovative systems in the field of life sciences, agriculture and the environment;
design, execute, and discuss the outcomes of a research project in a relevant area.