• To develop the knowledge of issues concerning the role of agriculture and the agri-food system in the process of economic development, the functioning and organization of the system agro-food and enterprises that are part of it;
• to deepen the theoretical and operational implications and deriving from the presence of market failures (externalities/public goods and transaction costs and information asymmetry);
• to develop knowledge of economic, political, and institutional framework for the agri-food system, defined at international, European, and national/regional levels;
• to provide the conceptual tools necessary for theoretical analysis and empirical issues of particular importance in the current economic debate, such as those relating to the effects of agricultural policies on international markets and to the role of the agri-food system in the preservation of the environment in the promotion of rural development, as well as in the protection of human health.

Part I - The agri-food system

1. The agri-food system

2. The demand and supply of agri-food products

3. Market failure

Part II - The rules and policies for the agri-food system

4. The regulatory authorities of the agri-food trade at international level

5. The policies for the agri-food system

6. The agricultural policy of the European Union

7. The policies for food quality and safety

8. The policies for the sustainability of the agri-food system

9. Study themes

Knowledge and understanding

Students will have to know the main theoretical economic models developed for the study of the agricultural sector and the agro-food system, the economic and institutional framework (international and European Union) for the agri-food system and the analysis (theoretical and empirical) on its role in the protection of natural resources in the development of rural areas and in health care.

Applying knowledge and understanding

Students must be able to make their own fundamental concepts acquired during the course, to process them and apply them to concrete cases, within the context of businesses, markets, institutions, and agroindustrial products.

Making judgments

At the end of the course, students will have acquired a good capacity for analysis of the topics covered and to carry out a critical evaluation of policies and strategies proposed to deal with the main issues of the agri-food system.

Communication skills

Students must know how to communicate the concepts and skills learned in a way that is clear, precise, and with an adequate vocabulary. Furthermore, they must be able to connect in them in unit schemes and integrate the knowledge acquired during the course.

Learning skills

Students must have acquired the capacity to undertake study paths subsequent and/or acquiring new knowledge, skills, and abilities through the professional experiences and working conditions within the framework of organizations in the agri-food system and in its referent environment.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises) and specific communications from the lecturer can be found, together with other supporting activities, inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

The course provides the use of different teaching methods:

• class lessons;
• seminars;
• group work and drafting of papers on specific topics by students subsequently presented and discussed in the classroom.

Assessment

Evaluation is by oral test, during which the student must demonstrate that:

• have acquired full knowledge of the topics covered (on a theoretical and applied level) during the Course;
• be able to express himself/herself with adequate vocabulary;
• be able to make a critical analysis of the topics covered and the policies proposed to address the main problems of the agrifood system.

The interview includes three questions, for each of which a score between 0 and 10 will be given, based on the following evaluation criteria:

• relevance and effectiveness of the answers in relation to the program content;
• level of articulation of the answer;
• adequacy of the disciplinary language used.

The final evaluation is expressed in thirtieths.

Attending students, taking into account the classroom presentation and discussion of the topic covered in the group work, may acquire up to 4 bonus points for the purpose of the final assessment. These presentations will be evaluated on the basis of:

• consistency and logical sequence of the topics covered;
• level of thoroughness;
• clarity of exposition and appropriate vocabulary.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Assessment

Evaluation is by oral test, during which the student must demonstrate that:

• have acquired full knowledge of the topics covered (on a theoretical and applied level) during the Course;
• be able to express himself/herself with adequate vocabulary;
• be able to make a critical analysis of the topics covered and the policies proposed to address the main problems of the agrifood system.

The interview includes three questions, for each of which a score between 0 and 10 will be given, based on the following evaluation criteria:

• relevance and effectiveness of the answers in relation to the program content;
• level of articulation of the answer;
• adequacy of the disciplinary language used.

The final evaluation is expressed in thirtieths.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.