Unit Outline

In this unit you will examine human impacts of agricultural production on ecosystem services, ecosystem functions and biodiversity. You will also learn how these services interact with agricultural production in relation to biosecurity, food security, and land management. You will explore concepts related to environmental-economic accounting, including true cost accounting and natural capital accounting. You will be provided with opportunities to formulate practice-based management solutions that are feasible, economically viable, socially and ethically acceptable, and environmentally sustainable.

This unit also incorporates learning through practice by exposing you to authentic learning experiences. These experiences are placed at the centre of learning and assessment to provide you with opportunities to develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours necessary to respond to industry, community and/or global needs.

Through a range of learning experiences you will be introduced to:

- approaches and practices relative to sustainable management of agricultural ecosystems;

- ways of understanding problems associated with agricultural production systems and developing solutions.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:

1.	Explain human impacts on agricultural ecosystems.
2.	Assess relationships between ecosystems services, ecosystem functions and agricultural production.
3.	Evaluate social and ethical aspects associated with management of agricultural ecosystems.
4.	Evaluate environmental–economical concepts of agricultural production systems to develop land management strategies.
5.	Formulate and communicate practice-based solutions for management of agricultural production ecosystems.

Requisites

REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	ZAB202

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Minor changes were made to the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching arrangements

ATTENDANCE MODE	TEACHING TYPE	LEARNING ACTIVITY	CONTACT HOURS	FREQUENCY
On Campus	Tutorial	9 x online 90 minute tutorials.	1.50	Study Period 9 times
	Workshop	1 x 3 hour online workshop.	3	Study Period 1 time
	Fieldwork	1 optional course wide field trip in week 5, and a possible second optional field trip in week 11.	8	Study Period 2 times
Online	Tutorial (Online)	9 x online 90 minute tutorials.	1.50	Study Period 9 times
	Workshop (Online)	1 x 3 hour online workshop.	3	Study Period 1 time
	Fieldwork	1 optional course wide field trip in week 5, and a possible second optional field trip in week 11.	8	Study Period 2 times

Attendance / engagement expectations

If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule

ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	AT1: Media Release	Week 4	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	AT2: Land Management Plan	Week 11	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 3:	AT3: Presentation - True Cost of Production	Week 14	35 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: AT1: Media Release

Task Description:

You will discuss the impacts of agricultural production on ecosystem functions, ecosystem services and biodiversity, including the extent of the impacts (both positive and negative). You will also briefly discuss the social and ethical issues that have become synonymous with these impacts.

Task Length:

800 words

Due Date:

Week 4

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)

1	Explain human factors that impact on agricultural ecosystems.	LO1
2	Assess relationships between ecosystem services, ecosystem functions and agricultural production.	LO2
3	Explain social and ethical aspects associated with agricultural production.	LO3

Assessment Task 2: AT2: Land Management Plan

Task Description:

You will develop an environmental management plan for an agricultural enterprise. Development of the management plan will require you to work on a case study of an agricultural enterprise. You will select an enterprise to base your case study on.

A template and report structure will be provided to guide the information you need to include in your land management plan.

You will be required to consult with the unit coordinator to determine the suitability of your selected case study topic.

Task Length:

1800 words

Due Date:

Week 11

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)

1	Assess ways that human factors impact on agricultural ecosystems.	LO1
2	Analyse relationships between agricultural production and ecosystem functions.	LO2
3	Evaluate social and ethical aspects associated with agricultural land management.	LO3
4	Explain how impacts and effects of your proposed land management actions will be monitored and assessed.	LO4
5	Formulate and communicate practice-based solutions for agricultural production ecosystems.	LO5

Assessment Task 3: AT3: Presentation - True Cost of Production

Task Description:

You will investigate the true cost of agricultural production and prepare a presentation. Your presentation will include various factors that contribute to the cost of production such as environmental, economic and social impacts.

Task Length:

10 minutes of narrative

Due Date:

Week 14

Weight:

35 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)

1	Explain the concept of ‘the true cost of production’.	LO1
2	Explain how true cost of production relates to sustainable agricultural production.	LO2
3	Evaluate social and ethical aspects associated with true costs of production.	LO3
4	Evaluate environmental and economic aspects associated with true costs of production.	LO4
5	Formulate and communicate practice-based solutions for agricultural production ecosystems.	LO5

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.

Required Resources

Required reading materials

Required reading materials will be provided by the Unit Coordinator.

Recommended reading materials

Recommended reading materials will be provided by the Unit Coordinator.

Other required resources

Not applicable.