Sokoine University of Agriculture SUA BSU – Short Course Announcement
Integrated Crop-Livestock-Aquaculture Biosystems
Offered December 05 to 09, 2016 at SUA Main Campus
Learning Outcomes:
Analyse social-economic and environmental challenges pertaining to Crop-Livestock–Aquaculture biosystems and their solutions
Advise on the management of social-economic and environmental challenges pertaining to Crop- Livestock–Aquaculture biosystems
Design a sustainable integrated Crop-Livestock–Aquaculture enterprise by means of an interdisciplinary approach
Apply principles of climate smart agriculture to improve the sustainability of Crop-Livestock–Aquaculture biosystems
Course Contents:
Identification and evaluation of factors affecting integrated crop-livestock-aquaculture biosystems for farm productivity and environmental sustainability; Frameworks and strategies for integrating crop-livestock- aquaculture biosystems for economic, diversification, integration, environmental and social benefits; Climate smart agriculture for integrated biosystems; Management and economics of integrated crop-livestock biosystems; Globalization of agriculture and its challenges and opportunities for agroecological production including organic farming.
COURSE PLAN
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Day |
Session |
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Monday |
Introduction and excursion to Animal, Aquaculture Farms |
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Systems theory |
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Tuesday |
Understanding and analysing mass, nutrient and economic flows in an integrated |
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system |
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o Defining systems- elements and boundaries |
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o Building relevant internal and external flows |
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o Methods to estimate forage intake and crop yields in practical farming |
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systems, Examples of research |
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Wednesday |
Management and optimization of integrated systems |
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o Interaction between the production and the decision making system |
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(management) |
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o Plan, control and actions – operative management |
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o Indicators, values, perceptions |
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Thursday |
Environmental and resource efficiency assessment of integrated systems |
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o Regional and global challenges |
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o Methods and tools at farm level |
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o Methods and tools at product level (life cycle assessment methodology) |
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o Define a relevant research question (groups of 2-3) and scientific aim |
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Friday |
Development of project proposal-set up, data collection, methods for assessment |
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Course evaluation |
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Practical Skills:
Modelling the compartment of a production unit with focus on detailed characteristics of the compartments; Analysis and assessment of case studies using real farm data; Design and management of crop, livestock and aquaculture enterprises for economic viability; Assessment of impact of inputs used in integrated production systems
Participants:
SUA-Postgraduate students and academic members of staff. There is an upper limit of 15 participants. Priority will be given to PhD students. Female participants are encouraged to apply.
Facilitators:
Prof. John Erik Hermansen, Troels Kristensen from Denmark in Collaboration with SUA academic members of Staff
How to Apply
Interested participants should submit their applications with a justification for the need to participate (by email) to the BSU II Project – Agro ecology focus area to Dr. Anthony Sangeda, email address: sangedaaz@gmail.com and copy to Prof John Hermansen at john.hermansen@agro.au.dk
The course will start with an excursion to Animal and Aquaculture Farms in Morogoro Municipality
Deadline for application: 01 December, 2016.