Laboratory in Sustainability of Agricultural Mechanization

The sustainability of mechanized operations that enable agricultural and forestry production is a very important goal in all production scenarios: from those oriented towards the production of raw materials, to those mainly oriented towards self-consumption. In both cases, agricultural mechanization must be an input factor based on technical solutions that - in addition to ensuring greater productivity - minimize environmental impacts and respect the principles of the circular economy. The objective of the course is to lead students to an understanding of the problems related to the correct choice and sustainable management of agricultural machinery, in different operating conditions. In particular, the course will deal with the main aspects related to the interaction of ag-machinery on air and soil-water systems, proposing approaches for the quantification of the parameters necessary for a subsequent definition of environmental impacts.

Students will master the principles of sustainable agricultural machinery operation. This involves understanding how to balance increased productivity with environmental impact through the analysis of machine interactions with air, soil, and water systems. This general result will be achieved through the acquisition of competencies and skills to: identify and quantify key parameters that influence the environmental impact of mechanical operations in agriculture; analyse the trade-offs between productivity and environmental sustainability; apply targeted operational solutions and technological advancements to achieve sustainable practices; independently develop and present a project that applies these principles to a real-world case study; create a technical report with calculations to support the implementation of sustainable agricultural practices.