SCHOOL	OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
ACADEMIC UNIT	AGRICULTURE
LEVEL OF STUDIES	UNDERGRADUATE
COURSE CODE	AGE0804	SEMESTER		8
COURSE TITLE	Environment and Sustainable Development
INDEPENDENT TEACHING ACTIVITIES			WEEKLY TEACHING HOURS		CREDITS
Lectures			3
Lab / Op. Exercises			0
Exercises			0
TOTAL HOURS			3		5
COURSE TYPE	Specialised general knowledge
PREREQUISITE COURSES
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION and EXAMINATIONS	Greek
IS THE COURSE OFFERED TO ERASMUS STUDENTS	Yes (in English)
COURSE WEBSITE (URL)

2. LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning Outcomes
The purpose of the course to investigate environmental issues related to agricultural activities and to analyze the rational way of managing renewable and non-renewable natural resources, using methodological tools of economic theory. In this context, students are provided with knowledge in scientific fields that are relevant to the environmental aspects of human activities in the production of agricultural products and food, giving special emphasis on their economic dimension. The protection of the natural environment and the use of natural resources are examined according to the principles of economic efficiency and sustainable rural development. Environmentally sustainable agricultural production systems are analyzed and the cases of Organic Production and Integrated Management are extensively analyzed. Upon successful completion of the course, the students will be able to: 1. Understand the basic concepts and principles used in Natural Resource and Environmental Economics to solve pollution problems 2. Understand how economic theory analyzes pollution issues. 3. Understand the basic theorems of Welfare Economics as well as the way they are used to analyze problems of allocation of natural resources based on the criteria of economic efficiency. 4. Understand the economic principles used for the rational use of renewable and non-renewable natural resources. 5. Understand the concept of sustainable development and how it can be implemented. 6. Be able to adequately analyze the long-term evolution of pollution problems and other issues concerning the environment and sustainable development based on available data. 7. Be able to perceive the current reality of important parameters of the environment and sustainable development based on the knowledge of the past and the most recent developments. 8. Understand and analyze the relationship among economic development and economic policies with environment, as well as the impact of agricultural activities on climate change. 9. Understand the association between environmentally sustainable agricultural production systems to the achievement of sustainability goals, such as organic production and integrated management. 10. Recognize the environmental, agronomic, economic and social impacts of organic production.
General Competences
Graduates upon obtaining the degree will: - have the theoretical and practical background of the science of Agriculture and in particular the scientific fields of Agricultural Economy, Agricultural Policy and Rural Development. - have the ability to creatively use and synthesize their scientific knowledge for the business utilization and development of the agri-food sector market with respect for the environment and the principles of its sustainable management. - have the ability to search, analyze and synthesize data and information, with the use of the appropriate modern technologies. - be able to investigate the environmental, economic and social effects of activities related to the production and marketing of agricultural products and food. - be able to investigate environmental problems related to agricultural activities and analyze the rational way of managing renewable and non-renewable natural resources, with the help of the methodological tools of economic theory. - have acquired the background for the development and evaluation of business plans related to the sustainable management of agricultural holdings. - have acquired the necessary cognitive background to enable their access to further postgraduate studies. - be able to properly apply their theoretical and practical knowledge acquired during the studies. Also, graduates after obtaining the degree will have the abilities to: - Adaptation to new situations. - Decision making. - Self-employed. - Team work. - Work in international environment. - Work in a multidisciplinary environment. - Production of new research ideas. - Demonstration of social, professional and ethical responsibility and sensitivity to environmental protection matters. - Respect for the natural environment. - Promotion of free, creative and inductive thinking.

3. SYLLABUS

• Interaction of economy and environment.
• The environmental issue
• Introduction to the economics of natural resources and the environment.
• Basic principles of economic natural resources and environment.
• Welfare economics and environment: basic concepts and definitions.
• Environmental degradation, market failure and government.
• Major environmental issues.
• Excellent management of exhaustible and renewable natural resources.
• The economic concept of sustainable development.
• Agriculture, global trade, consumption and the environment
• Agriculture, environment and politics.
• Economic evaluation of the environment.
• Environmentally friendly agricultural production systems: organic production, integrated management.

4. TEACHING and LEARNING METHODS - EVALUATION

DELIVERY

In the classroom (face to face)

USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

- Use of ICT with learning process support through the e-class electronic platform in teaching and communicating with students

TEACHING METHODS

Activity	Semester Workload
Lectures	39
Elaboration of a study exercise and a summary of a scientific article	25
Paper Writing – Case Study	75
Independent study	71






Course total (25 hours of workload per credit uni	210

STUDENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

1. Working out an exercise (10%)
Each student is required to prepare an individual exercise based on the study of a scientific/research article, related to the subjects of the first five units/weekly lectures. After the student has written a summary text according to a model, he/she presents the exercise and submits it for evaluation by the teacher by the end of the 6th week.

2. Paper Writing – Case Study (30%)
Each student is required to prepare an individual assignment. The student chooses to delve deeper into a problem or phenomenon, area, company, product, etc., according to the suggestions and questions of one of the assignments at the end of each unit/lecture (brief - guided by questions - case study ). The student undertakes to prepare the assignment under the guidance of the teacher, present it and submit it for evaluation by the end of the 12th week.

3. Written final theory exam (60%)
The written final examination of the theory is carried out after the completion of the teaching, according to the relevant rules of the School and during the examination periods officially determined by the University.
Students are asked to answer ten out of thirteen questions, which include:
- Multiple choice questions.
- Short answer questions.
- Comparative evaluation of theory elements.

The evaluation criteria are defined in the course guide that is distributed by the professor at the beginning of the semester to the students and is also available in electronic form on the e-class e-learning platform.
- It is done in writing, according to the relevant rules of the Department.

5. SUGGESTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

-Suggested bibliography :

• Siardos, G. and Koutsouris, A. (2011). Sustainable Agriculture & Development. Thessaloniki: ZYGOS Publications. (in Greek)
• Papanagiotou, E. (2011). Economy Natural Resources Agriculture and Environment (2nd Edition). Thessaloniki: GRAFIMA Publications. [ISBN: 978-960-6865-44-2] (in Greek)
• Faucheux S. and Noel J. – F. (2007). Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment (A Edition). Athens: GUTENBERG Publications. [ISBN: 978-960-01-1136-1] (in Greek)
• Dimadama Z. (2008). Economy, development, environment (A Edition). Athens: PAPAZISI Publications. [ISBN: 978-960-02-2201-2] (in Greek)
• Halkos, G. (2016). Economics of Natural Resources and Environment. Thessaloniki: Disigma Publications. [ISBN: 9789609495844] (in Greek)
• Halkos, G. (2013). Economy and Environment: Valuation and Management Methods. Athena; Liberal Books Publications. [ISBN13: 978-618-80-0846-5] (in Greek)
• Arabatzis, G. and Polyzos, S. (eds) (2014). Natural Resources, Environment and Development. Thessaloniki: Giola Publications. [ISBN: 978-960-418-153-7] (in Greek)
• Mitoulas, P., P., Kaldis and Astara, O. - E. (208). Sustainable development. Concepts - International and European Dimensions. ROSILI Publications. [ISBN13: 978-960-7996-59-6] (in Greek)
• Karvounis, S. and Georgakelos, D. (2016). Management of the Environment. Business and Sustainable Development. Piraeus: Varvarigos Publications. [ISBN: 960-351-480-2] (in Greek)
• Menon, A., & Menon, A. (1997). Enviropreneurial marketing strategy: the emergence of corporate environmentalism as market strategy. The Journal of Marketing, 61(1) pp. 51-67.
• Ottman, J. (2017). The New Rules of Green Marketing: Strategies, Tools, and Inspiration for Sustainable Branding. Routledge, NY, USA, pp. 272.
• Ottman, J. Stafford, E. and Hartman C. (2006). Avoiding Green Marketing Myopia, The Environment, 48(5), pp. 22-26.
• Tehrani, N. and Sinha, S. (2011). Understanding Green Business. AuthorHouse, Bloomington, IN, pp. 172-202.
• Rainey L. D. (2008), Sustainable Business Development –Inventing the Future through Strategy, Innovation, and Leadership. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [ISBN: 0521862787 9780521862783]

-Related academic journals: