Module Details
Module Code: |
AGRI S7019 |
Full Title:
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Agriculture and Climate Change
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Valid From:: |
Semester 2 - 2020/21 ( February 2021 ) |
Language of Instruction: | English |
Module Owner:: |
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Caroline Gilleran
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Breda Brennan
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Caroline Gilleran
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Departments: |
Agriculture, Food and Animal Health
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Module Description: |
In this module, students will learn about climate change in Ireland, reflect on our global mitigation commitments and explore and appraise mitigation options and emerging technologies for agriculture with regard to climate change.
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Module Learning Outcome |
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to: |
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Module Learning Outcome Description |
MLO1 |
Evaluate the mechanisms of climate change and assess the impacts for agriculture in Ireland. |
MLO2 |
Appraise the mitigation pathways and alternative technologies towards low-carbon agricutlure. |
MLO3 |
Analyse the role of clean technologies and bioenergy on the environment, particularly in the face of climate change and resource limitation. |
MLO4 |
Interpret the significance of relevant EU environmental directives, national legislation and regulations, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to the agricultural community and climate change. |
Pre-requisite learning |
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named DkIT module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
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No recommendations listed |
Module Indicative Content |
Climate change
Mechanisms and processes of directional climate change; measured effects on global and local climate, and projected future changes; effects on ocean acidification; effects on global freshwater water availability and water security.Implications of global climate change for agriculture in Ireland, including the contribution of agriculture to greenhouse gases, and the challenges of adapting to a changing climate.
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Policy
EU climate and energy legislation. The implications of EU directives, national regulations and the UN SDGs for the agricultural community in relation to climate change. International mitigation commitments: COP 21 (UNFCCC Paris agreement).
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Land-use mitigation
Carbon sequestration: Land-use change, improved grassland management, hedgerows,inclusion of cover crops in tillage, forestry, agroforestry.
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Agricultural mitigation
Low emission technologies: reducing emissions from animals, animal waste and fertiliser. Improving efficiences: higher animal productivity, improving animal health, increasing genetic merit, extending grazing season, additives (feed and slurry), multi-species swards, GM crops. Agricultural diversification e.g. agroforestry, bioenergy, agritourism.
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Energy mitigation
Increased farm energy efficiency. The energy problem, sources of biomass (Miscanthus, willow, etc), feedstock sustainability, global patterns of biomass use. Bioenergy technologies: anaerobic digestion and biomethane, biofuels for transport. Fundamentals of clean technology.
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Module Assessment
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Assessment Breakdown | % |
Practical | 40.00% |
Final Examination | 60.00% |
Module Special Regulation |
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AssessmentsPart Time On Campus
Reassessment Requirement |
Reattendance
The assessment of this module is inextricably linked to the delivery. Therefore reassessment on this module will require the student to reattend (i.e. retake) the module in its entirety.
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DKIT reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment
Module Workload
This module has no Full Time On Campus workload. |
Workload: Part Time On Campus |
Workload Type |
Contact Type |
Workload Description |
Frequency |
Average Weekly Learner Workload |
Hours |
Lecture |
Contact |
Interactive lectures specific to indicative content |
Every Week |
2.50 |
2.5 |
Independent Study |
Non Contact |
Independent study in relation to indicative content. |
Every Week |
2.00 |
2 |
Directed Reading |
Non Contact |
Directed reading specific to indicative content and reading list. |
Every Week |
2.00 |
2 |
Online Contact |
Contact |
Online Support |
Every Second Week |
0.50 |
1 |
Total Weekly Learner Workload |
7.00 |
Total Weekly Contact Hours |
3.00 |
Module Resources
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Recommended Book Resources |
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Godfrey Boyle. (2012), Renewable Energy, OUP Oxford, p.584, [ISBN: 9780199545339].
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H.P. Das. (2016), Climate Change and Agriculture Implication for Global Food Security, 1st. CRC Press, [ISBN: 9781498769761].
| Supplementary Book Resources |
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Jason Smerdon. (2018), Climate Change : The Science of Global Warming and Our Energy Future, 2nd. Columbia University Press, New York.
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Jochen Bundschuh, Guangnan Chen. (2017), Sustainable Energy Solutions in Agriculture, 1st. CRC Press, [ISBN: 9781138077744].
| Recommended Article/Paper Resources |
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Janusz Nowotnya, John Dodsonb, Sebastian
Fiechterc, Turgut M. Gürd, Brendan
Kennedye, Wojciech Macykf, Tadeusz Baka,
Wolfgang Sigmundg, Michio Yamawakih,
Kazi A. Rahmana. (2018), Towards global sustainability: Education
on environmentally clean energy
technologies, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 81, p.2541.
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Gary J. Lanigan & Trevor Donnellan. (2019), An Analysis of Abatement Potential of
Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Irish
Agriculture 2021-2030, Teagasc Greenhouse Gas Working Group,
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Department of the Environment, Climate
and Communications. (2017), National Mitigation Plan,
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Trevor Donnellan, Kevin Hanrahan and
Gary Lanigan. (2018), Future Scenarios for Irish Agriculture:
Implications for Greenhouse Gas and
Ammonia Emissions, Teagasc,
| Other Resources |
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Website, Global Monitoring Laboratory. (2021), U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration,
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Website, AGRI-I. (2021), Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research
Initiative - Ireland,
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