2025
SUSTAINABLE TROPICAL AGRICULTURE
Name: SUSTAINABLE TROPICAL AGRICULTURE
Code: FIT13417O
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area:
Agronomy
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
Provide knowledge on the cu's theoretical bases and understanding of the problems of the sustainable agriculture in tropical regions. Develop the ability of students to integrate and make autonomous use of this knowledge.
Develop the students' ability to deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, and develop the students' potential for professional activities that demand considerable autonomy, including research and development.
Develop students skills to critically analyse the possible solutions to the existing problems, evaluating the pros and cons, and selecting the most appropriate alternatives considering the opportunities and constraints.
Develop the students' ability to deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, and develop the students' potential for professional activities that demand considerable autonomy, including research and development.
Develop students skills to critically analyse the possible solutions to the existing problems, evaluating the pros and cons, and selecting the most appropriate alternatives considering the opportunities and constraints.
Contents
The sustainability concept applied to Agriculture, with the focus on tropical environments: Natural resources and socio-economic conditions. Potential and limitations in the primary sector.
Cropping systems in subsistence agriculture and possibilities for alternative cash-crops.
The challenges for low input agricultural systems in tropical environments:
- Soil conservation and soil fertility;
- Efficient water use;
- Crop selection and its combination/rotation;
- Weed, pest and disease control;
- Management of crop residues for livestock and soil conservation.
Post-harvest and agroindustry:
- Conservation and storage of agricultural products;
- Transformation of agricultural products;
- Markets;
- Value chains of crops.
Agricultural systems in the tropics:
- Family agriculture;
- Urban and peri-urban agriculture;
- Commercial agriculture.
Cropping systems in subsistence agriculture and possibilities for alternative cash-crops.
The challenges for low input agricultural systems in tropical environments:
- Soil conservation and soil fertility;
- Efficient water use;
- Crop selection and its combination/rotation;
- Weed, pest and disease control;
- Management of crop residues for livestock and soil conservation.
Post-harvest and agroindustry:
- Conservation and storage of agricultural products;
- Transformation of agricultural products;
- Markets;
- Value chains of crops.
Agricultural systems in the tropics:
- Family agriculture;
- Urban and peri-urban agriculture;
- Commercial agriculture.
Teaching Methods
Online activities using MOODLE platform and local lessons (theoretical/practical);
- Utilization of videos available on the internet on the different topics discussed in the classes, followed by the students analysis in form of reports or essays;
- Presentation and discussion of papers on the syllabus contents
- Utilization of videos available on the internet on the different topics discussed in the classes, followed by the students analysis in form of reports or essays;
- Presentation and discussion of papers on the syllabus contents
Accreditations and Certifications
