Learning objectives
The student will acquire a basic knowledge of economics and a specific knowledge of the economics of zootechnical production, agri-food economics, agronomy and botany.
Course unit content
National and European livestock situation. Fundamentals of economic theory. Market for agricultural products. The farm and the enterprice. The economic balance of the farm. Economics of production. The organization of producers. Tax reform in agriculture. The sources of statistical information in agriculture. Consumer, business and market. Components of the food system. Transformation in agriculture. Agri-food industry. Reorganization of the distribution system. Public intervention. EU policies for agriculture, rural development, food security and the environment.
The agricultural soil: physical, chemical and biological properties.
The agricultural techniques: tillage, fertilization, fertilization laws.
The plant cell: organelles and cell wall.
Development and cell differentiation.
Plant tissues and their functions.
Root system, vegetative and reproductive systems.
Plant metabolism: photosynthesis, nitrogen uptake and assimilation.
Absorption and assimilation of major mineral elements.
Saprofitismo and symbiosis.
Products of secondary metabolism.
Adaptations of plants to stress.
Bibliography
DE CASTRO P. – Verso una nuova agricoltura europea. Agra, Roma, 2002.
HOFFMANN A. – La nuova politica di sviluppo rurale. Franco Angeli, Milano, 2006.
MARIANI F., VIGANO’ E. – Il sistema agroalimentare dell’Unione Europea. Carrocci Editore, Roma, 2002.
ZUCCHI G. – Zooeconomia. Economia del sistema delle produzioni animali. Edizioni Avenue media, Bologna, 2006.
FABBRI A. – Produzioni vegetali. Edagricole, Bologna, 2001.
PUPILLO P., CERVONE F., CRESTI M., RASCIO N. - BIOLOGIA VEGETALE. Zanichelli Editore, Bologna, 2003.
LINCOLN T., ZEIGER E. - FISIOLOGIA VEGETALE. Piccin, 2009.
