Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics and Policy
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The course aims to introduce students to the economics of natural resources in agriculture and the related policies. Emphasis will be given to the economics of nonrenewable and renewable resources in agriculture, agricultural externalities, the trade-off between innovation, productivity and environmental quality and issues related water, land use and to agricultural resource policy.
A focus will be devoted to the economic, environmental and policy dimensions and linkages related to the management of water resource and its sustainable use in agriculture.
The final part of the course will be focused on bioeconomy and circular economy, providing a comprehensive view on principles, objectives, actions and innovative potential of these two timely and sustainable economic approaches. The current policy context for both the bio- and circular economy at the European level will be examined.
A focus will be devoted to the economic, environmental and policy dimensions and linkages related to the management of water resource and its sustainable use in agriculture.
The final part of the course will be focused on bioeconomy and circular economy, providing a comprehensive view on principles, objectives, actions and innovative potential of these two timely and sustainable economic approaches. The current policy context for both the bio- and circular economy at the European level will be examined.
Expected learning outcomes
The course will prepare students to employ economic principles to assess the role played by natural resources in agriculture and to evaluate policy measures aimed at improving economic efficiency, social welfare and sustainability. The course aims to provide the basic elements of the water economy to understand the economic and social processes of the right to water and for a sustainable consumption of water resource. At the end of the course, students will acquire knowledge on the underlying bases of bio- and circular economic processes, on their most prominent issues and criticalities, as well as on the major opportunities that could be derived from a systemic perspective.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
PART1: WATER ECONOMICS AND POLICY ISSUES.
The global water scenario. Increasing water demand vs water availability reduction. Adapting to climate variability and change. Sustainable water consumption. The water footprint. Calculation of the green, blue and grey water footprint. Economic value of water resources. Water and natural capital. Elements of water pricing.
PART 2: AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT: ECONOMICS AND POLICY
Main features of born, evolution and current characteristics of agricultural activity. Agricultural activity as an economic activity. Limited resources for a growind demand of food. Land sharing, land sparing and the production possibility frontier. The trade offs in the production and uses of biomasses produced by the agricultural activity. The economics of Naturalist paradigm, with a special focus on organic farmig. Technical and economic aspects of land preservation. Conservation agriculture. Techical and economic aspects of plant nutrition: Nitrogen and Phosphorus. Techical and economic aspects of plant protection. Paracelsius: "the dose makes the poison". Bruce Ames: "dietary pesticides: 99.99% all natural". Modeling of the economics of plant protection. Technical and economic aspects of New Plant breeding technologies. The Common Agricultural Poliy of the European Union: evolution from a productivity-enhancing to an environmental-friendly policy.
PART 3: BIOECONOMY AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY.
Bioeconomy and circular economy: use of biological resources for conversion into bio-based products and energy. Circularity of consumable and durable products. Eco-design and end-of-waste. Interactions and synergies among bio- and circular economy.
The global water scenario. Increasing water demand vs water availability reduction. Adapting to climate variability and change. Sustainable water consumption. The water footprint. Calculation of the green, blue and grey water footprint. Economic value of water resources. Water and natural capital. Elements of water pricing.
PART 2: AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT: ECONOMICS AND POLICY
Main features of born, evolution and current characteristics of agricultural activity. Agricultural activity as an economic activity. Limited resources for a growind demand of food. Land sharing, land sparing and the production possibility frontier. The trade offs in the production and uses of biomasses produced by the agricultural activity. The economics of Naturalist paradigm, with a special focus on organic farmig. Technical and economic aspects of land preservation. Conservation agriculture. Techical and economic aspects of plant nutrition: Nitrogen and Phosphorus. Techical and economic aspects of plant protection. Paracelsius: "the dose makes the poison". Bruce Ames: "dietary pesticides: 99.99% all natural". Modeling of the economics of plant protection. Technical and economic aspects of New Plant breeding technologies. The Common Agricultural Poliy of the European Union: evolution from a productivity-enhancing to an environmental-friendly policy.
PART 3: BIOECONOMY AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY.
Bioeconomy and circular economy: use of biological resources for conversion into bio-based products and energy. Circularity of consumable and durable products. Eco-design and end-of-waste. Interactions and synergies among bio- and circular economy.
Prerequisites for admission
Microeconomics and Environmental economics are strongly recommended.
Teaching methods
The teaching is based on formal lessons (in presence or on-line modality), as well as on the presentation and discussion of specific empirical studies (papers) related to the different topics of the course; classroom exercises (in presence or on-line modality) can be based on specific homework assigned by the teacher.
Teaching Resources
Antonelli, M., Greco, F. (2015). The water we eat. Combining virtual water and water footprint. Springer,
WWAP (United Nations World Water Assessment Programme) (2015). The United Nations World Water Development Report 2015: Water for a Sustainable World. Paris, UNESCO.
Reports, papers and slides provided during classes, lecture notes.
WWAP (United Nations World Water Assessment Programme) (2015). The United Nations World Water Development Report 2015: Water for a Sustainable World. Paris, UNESCO.
Reports, papers and slides provided during classes, lecture notes.
Assessment methods and Criteria
From June 2023 the exam of Agricultural and natural resources economics and policy (ANREP) will be done in written form. Even if the course is divided into three parts, the written exam will group all three parts and will yield a single grade. For this reason, it will not be possible to take the three parts separately.
The three parts of the course are: water economics and policy (WEP, held by Felice D'Alessandro), agriculture and environment: economics and policy (AEEP, hed by Daniele Cavicchioli) and circular economy and bioeconomy (CEB held by Elisa De Marchi).
STRUCTURE AND SCORE OF THE WRITTEN EXAMINATION
One open question (on one of the three parts of the course) for a maximum of 12 points
12 multiple choice questions on the other two topics of the course (6+6) with 2 points for each correct answer. Maximum score for multiple choice questions: 24 points
Possible combinations of the written exam:
1) Open question on WEP (max 12 points) + 6 multiple choice questions on AEPP (max 12 points) + 6 multiple choice questions on CEB (max 12 points)
2) Open question on AEPP (max 12 points) + 6 multiple choice questions on WEP (max 12 points) + 6 multiple choice questions CEB (max 12 points)
3) Open question on CEB (max 12 points) + 6 multiple choice questions on WEP (max 12 points) + 6 multiple choice questions on AEPP (max 12 points)
Maximum overall score obtainable: 36 points.
The maximum score exceeds 30 points to compensate students for the disadvantage of taking a single exam on three different subjects (WEP, AEEP and CEB)
MAXIMUM TIME 90 MINUTES
The three parts of the course are: water economics and policy (WEP, held by Felice D'Alessandro), agriculture and environment: economics and policy (AEEP, hed by Daniele Cavicchioli) and circular economy and bioeconomy (CEB held by Elisa De Marchi).
STRUCTURE AND SCORE OF THE WRITTEN EXAMINATION
One open question (on one of the three parts of the course) for a maximum of 12 points
12 multiple choice questions on the other two topics of the course (6+6) with 2 points for each correct answer. Maximum score for multiple choice questions: 24 points
Possible combinations of the written exam:
1) Open question on WEP (max 12 points) + 6 multiple choice questions on AEPP (max 12 points) + 6 multiple choice questions on CEB (max 12 points)
2) Open question on AEPP (max 12 points) + 6 multiple choice questions on WEP (max 12 points) + 6 multiple choice questions CEB (max 12 points)
3) Open question on CEB (max 12 points) + 6 multiple choice questions on WEP (max 12 points) + 6 multiple choice questions on AEPP (max 12 points)
Maximum overall score obtainable: 36 points.
The maximum score exceeds 30 points to compensate students for the disadvantage of taking a single exam on three different subjects (WEP, AEEP and CEB)
MAXIMUM TIME 90 MINUTES
AGR/01 - AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND RURAL APPRAISAL - University credits: 8
Lessons: 64 hours
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
by appointment
Department of Environmental Science and Policy (Via Celoria, 2; 3rd floor)
Reception:
Via G. Celoria 2, Dep. Environmental Science and Policy (third floor)