Module manager: Dr Beth Dyson
Email: B.Dyson@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as an Elective
The module will ensure that students can make a difference to UK farming in real world contexts, applying their knowledge of sustainable food production within the policy and economic frameworks of UK agriculture. Students will develop a working knowledge of the environmental, economic and policy considerations of farming sustainably in the UK.
In this module students will gain an appreciation of the practicalities and complexities involved in assessing the sustainability of agricultural environments and an in-depth understanding of the social and political aspects of sustainable agriculture. Topics will include measuring emissions, life cycle assessment, carbon accounting, incentive schemes, and agricultural policy. This module features a combination of lectures and seminars, coupled with field visits to develop monitoring skills.
1. Describe and compare a variety of different aspects of environmental monitoring, identifying appropriate strategies for agricultural systems.
2. Interpret and apply UK and EU policies to farming and food production, identifying appropriate strategies to maximise sustainability.
3. Evaluate the impacts of various agri-environmental policies and targets at the national, local and on-farm level.
4. Demonstrate and explain a variety of different on-farm monitoring techniques and judge their efficacy.
5. Interpret and evaluate monitoring data from farm-based studies in light of sustainable farming practices.
Lectures will cover the agri-environmental policy situation in the UK and EU, including environmental land management schemes and the common agricultural policy. Seminars will place these policies into context, examining the economic implications and addressing the research behind some of these guidelines. Field work will address how the policies can be implemented in on-farm setting, with a particular focus on environmental monitoring.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| Seminars | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Fieldwork | 2 | 8 | 16 |
| Private study hours | 125 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 25 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150 | ||
Students will be expected to write up any notes taken in the field. Independent, in depth study of the topics introduced in the seminars and lectures, plus preparing for assessment will take up the majority of the independent learning time.
Students will get dedicated sessions to discuss their answers to the SAQs with the course staff to get direct feedback on their thoughts during the assessment process.
Direct feedback on student performance will be given during the fieldwork. Students will be encouraged to submit small amounts of written work (up to 500 words) to assess their writing and/or plans for the written work.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Report | 2,500 word report | 60 |
| In-course Assessment | 2 SAQs, 500 words each | 40 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 30/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team