International Cooperation and Crop-Livestock Systems

Aim of the course is to provide the agronomists who intend to
work in the field of the international cooperation, with the
analysis factors of the agro-feeding systems in the developing
countries. Firstly, the present agricultural and livestock
productive structures in the different geographic, ecological and
climatic areas of the world are described. Secondly, a review of
the concepts and principles related to feed security and feed
safety are also presented and discussed, liaising with the
dynamics of the domestic and international markets. Both the
rural and the peri-urban areas are considered in this survey. By
a systemic approach some important food chains are analysed,
with a particular reference to the use of sustainable productive
factors and to the set-up of farm systems for the agricultural
and livestock productions. Starting from case studies, a
methodology is proposed to plan development projects in crop
and animal production, to implement and to monitor them in
view of an economic and environmental sustainability. The
present issues dealing with the food and environment crises,
with the North/South imbalance, and with the tools of the
international cooperation, are presented and discussed also
with the contribute of some outside experts.

At the end of the course and when the final examination will be
positively passed, the student will have gained knowledge and
expertise on the different crop and livestock husbandry systems
and technologies in the world, with the critical points and the
assets of each system. He/she will have also learnt how to plan,
implement and monitor a development project on agriculture and
animal production social friendly and economically and
environmentally sustainable.