Organic agriculture

At the end of the course, the student should be familiar with the topics covered in the program and be able to apply this knowledge in the agricultural field.

Furthermore, the student will have to improve critical and judgment skills through activities that contribute to developing these skills (e.g., laboratory tests, writing reports, technical visit, etc.).

Finally, the student will have to develop the ability to communicate what has been learned and possess the tools to allow him to continue his studies independently at the end of the course.

Lessons (21 hours) and hands-on activities (42 hours) by case studies and/or seminars, group activities, etc. also on line.

If teaching is performed in mixed mode or remotely, specific changes to the program outlined in the Syllabus may need to be made​.

Information for students with disabilities and/or DSA: as a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline. It is also possible to ask the departmental contact of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Inclusion), in the person of professor Anna De Angelis.

Attendance is not compulsory, but recommended.

Active participation allows the student to more easily acquire the ability to link the various topics present in the course program, the ability to report examples and the technical language, which are also evaluated in the final oral examination.

Concept of environmental, economic and social sustainability; impact of agricultural production on bio-geochemical and energy cycles, environmental pollution and food safety; notes on agroecology and models of sustainable agriculture; definition and principles of organic farming; history and evolution of organic farming; diffusion of organic agriculture worldwide, in Italy and in Sicily; organic farming and climate change; organic farming, soil fertility and its conservation management; maintenance of biodiversity in organic agriculture and the role of custodian farmers; agronomic techniques for organic cultivation of the main Mediterranean crops; quality of organic products; regulatory framework for organic agriculture in Europe and in Italy; conversion of a farm to the organic farming system; control, certification and labelling of organic products; multifunctionality of the organic farm and its services to the territory; introduction to organic livestock production; research activities in organic agriculture.

1. Altieri M.A., Nicholls C.I., Ponti L. (2015). Agroecologia. Una via percorribile per un pianeta in crisi. Edagricole. ISBN: 9788850654864

2. Caccioni A., Colombo L. (2012). Il Manuale del Biologico. Edagricole/Il Sole 24 Ore. ISBN: 9788850653935

3. Zanin G., Tei F., Sartori L. (2024). Gestire le malerbe in agricoltura biologica. Edagricole. ISBN-10: ‎ 8850656416; ISBN-13: ‎ 978-8850656417.

Didactic materials provided by the professor (lecture notes, PowerPoint presentations, etc.) in the website http://studium.unict.it

Oral exam. In particular, the achievement of the learning outcomes will be ascertained through an oral discussion with the student, during which the performance will be assessed in terms of the level of preparation achieved on the subjects of the discipline, argumentative and synthesis skills, clarity and language properties, with specific reference to technical terminology, as well as interdisciplinary connection skills and the degree of in-depth analysis. Verification of learning can also be done electronically.

The evaluation will be expressed according to the following scale:

• insufficient performance (<18). The student shows incomplete and superficial knowledge of the subjects of the discipline and lack of argumentative skills, does not express itself clearly and appropriately;
• sufficient performance (18 ÷ 20/30). The student has understood and demonstrates to know, albeit generically, the topics of the discipline, possesses satisfactory argumentative and expository skills, and language properties;
• fair performance (21 ÷ 23/30). The student shows a fairly good understanding and knowledge of the subjects of the discipline, as well as fairly good argumentative and expository skills and language properties;
• good performance (24 ÷ 26/30). The student shows a good understanding and knowledge of the topics of the discipline, as well as good argumentative and expository skills and language properties,
• optimal performance (27 ÷ 29/30) The student shows an optimal degree of understanding and knowledge of the subjects of the discipline, as well as optimal argumentative skills and interdisciplinary connection, optimal analytical and synthesis skills, clarity and language properties;
• excellent performance (30/30 ÷ 30/30 cum laude) The student shows full mastery of the subjects of the discipline, as well as excellent argumentative skills and interdisciplinary connection, clarity and confidence in presentation and language properties. Honours are given to the particularly deserving student, who will have shown specific interest in the topics of the discipline attested by a high degree of in-depth study.

Organic agriculture concept

Soil fertility and its conservation under organic farming

Organic cropping systems

Regulatory framework in organic agriculture