Sustainable Agriculture and Management

Undergraduate Studies

B.Sc. Sustainable Agriculture and Management

The overall aim of the Sustainable Agriculture and Management (SAM) 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 SAM disciplines.

The goals of the Sustainable Agriculture and Management (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.

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Learning outcomes

Students in any of the two pathways (Precision Agriculture and Livestock Production) of the BSc (Hons/Ord) Sustainable Agriculture and Management (SAM) 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 Sustainable Agriculture and Management (SAM) 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.

Modules

CURRICULUM

1^st Year
Environment and Climate Change	10 credits
Principles of Biology	10 credits
Basic Mathematics	10 credits
Introductory Composition	10 credits
Information System Skills	10 credits
English Language I	10 credits
Sustainability & Society	10 credits
Mediterranean Diet: Science & Culture	10 credits
Introduction to Information System	10 credits
Introduction to Academic Writing	10 credits
Public Speaking & Business Communication	10 credits
English Language II	10 credits

2^nd Year
Introduction to ICT for Agriculture and Environment	10 credits
Management - Business Administration	10 credits
Agricultural Marketing	10 credits
Environmental Technology and Agricultural Machinery	10 credits
Principles of Microbiology and Chemistry	10 credits
Learning Methods	20 credits
Introduction to Agro-Environmental Systems	10 credits
Environmental Soil Science	10 credits
Principles of Genetics and Plant Breeding	10 credits
Botany and Plant Propagation	10 credits
Entomology	10 credits

3^rd Year
Principles of Precision Agriculture and Environmental Sustainability	10 credits
Research Methods - Statistics	10 credits
Waste Management	10 credits
Introduction to Livestock Science	10 credits
Plant Physiology	10 credits
Principles of Plant Pathology	10 credits
Field Crop Production	10 credits
Fruit Tree Production	10 credits
Viticulture	10 credits
Crop Nutrition & Soil Fertility Management	10 credits
Weed Science and Management	10 credits
Olive Production Systems	10 credits

4^th Year
Post- Harvest and Olive Processing	10 credits
GIS in Agriculture and the Environment	10 credits
Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Production	10 credits
Horticultural Science	10 credits
Farm Management	10 credits
Greenhouse Technology and Management	10 credits
Ecological Agriculture	10 credits
Soil and Water Resource Management	10 credits
Precision Agriculture Applications	10 credits
Dissertation	30 credits

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.

Main research thematic areas

Research studies in τhe Dept. of SAM 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.

Specializations - 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.