Basic concepts on agriculture and agricultural economics.
The evolution of agriculture: from productivism to rural devleopment.
The evolution of the Common Agricultural Policy and its implications.
Quality and security of agrofood products. Information problems and quality signalling. Quality standards and certification.
Strategies of valorisation of local, typical, environmentally friendly and ethical products on local and international markets.
Food and tourism.
Texts and other information will be available both on the course webpage (http://www.webalice.it/andrea.marescotti/Course_AFE.htm) and Moodle platform.
Learning Objectives
ACQUIRED COMPETENCIES AFTER THE COURSE:
Ability to analyse, interpretate, and describe the characteristics and the dynamics of agri-food quality systems in the light of the evolution of production and consumption models in developed countries.
Ability to critically analyse the effects of both public and private quality regulation policies on the firm and local production systems.
Ability in implementing a valorisation strategy and plan with regards to local, typical and traditional food products.
Prerequisites
No pre-requisites. Suggested: Microeconomics (basic concepts), and any other basic course related to Agricultural Economics.
Teaching Methods
Lectures, seminars, case-study analysis, individual and collective exercises
Further information
The course will be held from March to May.
Type of Assessment
Attending students
The assessment consists of a written test, aimed at verifying: 1) the knowledge acquired regarding the concepts, materials and tools for Agri-Food Economics; 2) the ability to apply the acquired knowledge, the ability to draw conclusions, the use of appropriate language, and the ability to understand and learning.
Written test has n.5 open questions and n.20 true/false questions. Each open question scores maximum 5 points. Each true/false question scores 0,5 point in case of right answer, 0 points in case of no answer, -0,25 points in case of wrong answer. Duration of the text: 1 hour. Examples of written tests and further information available at: http://www.webalice.it/andrea.marescotti/Course_AFE.htm.
The final mark will be the result of the scores obtained from both the open and the true/false questions, plus the scores obtained from the non-compulsory exercise(s) and/or team work carried out during the course.
Non-attending students
The assessment consists of an oral exam, aimed at verifying: 1) the knowledge acquired regarding the concepts, materials and tools for Agri-Food Economics; 2) the ability to apply the acquired knowledge, the ability to draw conclusions, the use of appropriate language, communication skills, and the ability to understand and learning.
The oral exam consists in 3 questions. Duration: 15-to-30 minutes.
Course program
1. Agricultural supply and food demand. The specificities of agricultural activities: production processes, agricultural sector structure and farms characteristics. Farmers' behaviour on the market. Price variability.
2. The evolution of agricultural production model and consumption model in advanced economies. Modernisation and new development model in agri-food system.
3. Information problems and quality signalling. The specificity of the quality issue in agriculture and food. Traceability, labelling, quality standards and certification.
4. Valorisation strategies of local, typical, environmentally friendly and ethical products on local and international markets. The protection of Geographical Indications and its economic, social, and environmental effects. Short supply-chains: farmers' markets, solidarity purchasing groups, community-supported agriculture, box schemes.
5. Food and tourism. Basic concepts, agri-tourism and rural tourism. Food routes. Case study analysis