ECONOMY AND MECHANIZATION FOR PRECISION FARMING

Module Economics and management of innovations

The course aims to make the student acquire the basic economic principles for the adoption of precision farming techniques and to highlight the main implications on the management of production units, in relation to social, economic and environmental aspects. Economic valuation techniques are illustrated to determine the benefits that can be achieved through the analysis of the effects on costs and revenues. The course also aims to provide the useful basis for understanding the macroeconomic aspects of innovations, their generation, acquisition and dissemination processes in economic systems at different levels of development, with reference to national and international scenarios and to the various regulations present. Students at the end of the course will be able to: 1) understand the role and importance of business organization in the adoption of techniques of precision farming with special attention to economic and technical efficiency indicators; 2) apply the acquired knowledge to be able to perform appropriate arguments on different methods of economic evaluation to determine business performance; 3) collect and analyze data and information aimed at the analysis of cost and revenue streams useful for conducting desk analyses on farm efficiency; 4) communicate what has been gradually learned through interventions stimulated by the lecturer in order to identify solutions capable of being able to achieve the final result that the company had set out to achieve; 5) independently develop the skills acquired to analyze case studies and make connections with other disciplines in the course of study.

Frontal lessons and classroom exercises, participations in any seminars and/or conferences, technical visits to institutions and companies.

Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.

Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.

Information for students with Learning Disorders

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 contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Inclusion - Learning Disorders), in the persons of professor Anna De Angelis.

Innovation, development and economic growth

Review of economic theory. Role of innovations in the competitiveness of economic systems. Schools of thought, interpretative models and policies. Technical progress and innovation in economic thinking. Evolutionary theory of innovation: basic notions. Types and sources of innovation. The innovative enterprise. Diffusion and adoption of innovation. Innovation systems. Public policies for innovation. Innovation and intellectual property rights.

Innovations in agriculture

Evolution and current scenario Product

Evolutionary features of innovations in modern agriculture: from the green revolution to digital innovations. The dissemination of knowledge and innovation in agriculture and the difficulties of modernizing farms. The development of mechanization and subcontracting. The spread of Precision Agriculture in the world and in Italy.

Support for businesses to access innovations.

Public incentives. The role of agricultural credit.

Research, development and innovation in agriculture

Biotechnological innovations: economic and regulatory aspects. The social perception of biotechnological innovations. The European Partnership for Innovation in Agriculture. The role of the Operational Groups in the generation of agricultural innovations in the Italian context. The Agricultural Research Database. The socio-economic profile of the innovative entrepreneur and the tools to encourage the adoption of Precision farming innovations.

Analysis of the economic evaluation of the introduction of Precision Agriculture in the farm

Precision farmingand the effects on company capital, on work, on revenues. The income statement and valuations for individual technologies and crops. The technical-economic dimension for the introduction of Precision Farming. The determination of the economic convenience for the introduction of Precision Farming. Environmental impacts and benefits: notes on evaluation using the Life Cycle Assessment methodology.

Analysis of case studies and simulations by applying some Decision Support Tools to evaluate the economic convenience of company investments in Precision Farming.

Fariselli P., Economia dell’innovazione, Giappichelli editore, Torino, 2014.

Casa R. (a cura di), Agricoltura di precisione. Metodi e tecnologie per migliorare l’efficienza e la sostenibilità dei sistemi colturali, Edagricole, Bologna, 2018.

Fontana E., Il credito alle filiere agroalimentari. Mercato, Valutazione di merito, Concessione, Edagricole, Bologna, 2019.

Galbiati M., Gentile A., La Malfa S. Tonelli C. (a cura di), Biotecnologie sostenibili, Edagricole, Bologna, 2017.

Teacher slides on the topics covered.

Intermediate tests. Oral final profit examination. Verification of learning may also be conducted electronically, should conditions require it.

The learning verification is carried out by means of an oral interview. The evaluation of the student's preparation will take place on the basis of the following criteria: the student's ability to learn and the level of in-depth study of the topics covered, the student's ability to synthesise and expound, and the student's reasoning ability.

The grading follows the following scheme:

Unsuitable

Knowledge and understanding of topic: Significant deficiencies. Significant inaccuracies

Ability to analyse and synthesise: Irrelevant. Frequent generalisations. Inability to summarise

Use of references: Completely inappropriate

18-20

Subject knowledge and understanding: At threshold level. Obvious imperfections

Capacity for analysis and synthesis: Barely sufficient capacity

Use of references: Barely appropriate

21-23

Knowledge and understanding of the subject matter: Routine Knowledge Ability to analyse and synthesise: Is able to analyse and synthesise correctly. Argues logically and coherently

Use of references: Uses standard references

24-26

Knowledge and understanding of subject matter: Good knowledge

Analysis and synthesis abilities: Has good analysis and synthesis abilities. Arguments are expressed coherently

Use of references: Uses standard references

27-29

Knowledge and understanding of the subject: Knowledge more than good

Capacity for analysis and synthesis: Has considerable capacity for analysis and synthesis

Use of references: Has deepened the arguments

30-30L

Knowledge and understanding of the subject: Very good knowledge

Capacity for analysis and synthesis: Has considerable capacity for analysis and synthesis.

Use of references: Has significant in-depth knowledge.