The aim of this module is to explore the sustainable use of resources and how better management of the factors of production can lead to both a competitive advantage and sustainable resource use outcome. Today, the linearity of the global economy is becoming hard to escape; excess waste piled in landfills and littered along coastlines are visible hallmarks of a “take, make, dispose” paradigm fuelled by business and devoured by consumers. Despite such worrying trends, the linear model is still going strong and continues to form the basis of much of today's production and consumption patterns. In fact, only 9% of primary resources, which include biomass, fossil fuels, metals, and non-metallic minerals, are being circulated in some form. Linear systems are easier to understand, model and manage. You will consider how businesses decide on the combinations of inputs to produce their desired output/s within the limits of sustainable systems. The changing dynamics affecting these choices will be analysed. The raised awareness over the social impacts of these choices will be considered. How are businesses altering their resource allocation decisions in light of better understanding of the environmental costs, coupled with increased customer demand for such changes? In the past ownership of resources was a major source of power. Today it is the sustainable management of such scarce items that is becoming increasingly important. This coupled with consumer demand and Government regulation is impacting how businesses operate.
View the full module definitionFresh produce is essential for human health and nutrition, but it is usually highly perishable and susceptible to loss. In this module, you‘ll explore the role of postharvest practice in meeting today’s challenges of preserving fresh produce quality across the supply chain. You’ll focus on crucial drivers, such as reducing food loss and waste in the efforts to tackle food security and local to global hunger. A central discussion in this module, will be environmental sustainability mindful of the estimated 8-10% of global emissions linked to food loss and waste. You‘ll also consider the expanding interest in plant-based diets and generational shifts in dietary preferences highlight the pressures of preserving quality and the nutritional value of fresh produce. To understand how to meet these challenges, you’ll study postharvest biology, both the biotic and abiotic causes of deterioration, with close inter-connections to preharvest production and consumer behaviour. You’ll use this knowledge to evaluate emergent postharvest methods and research on techniques that seek to find potential solutions to suit changing needs and prolong fresh produce shelf life. You’ll also become familiar with the key qualitative and quantitative factors used to assess quality. Through topic assessment choice, you will gain a specialist understanding of novel techniques and current research findings for chosen fresh produce crop(s) to evaluate their future use in controlling deterioration and in-country suitability inclusive of infrastructure and consumers' acceptance. Throughout the module, you‘ll be encouraged to problem solve, discuss and build on further knowledge using flexible delivery linked to learning outcomes.
This module will focus on the stages food products go through between leaving the producer and arriving at the consumer. This will include all the key activities, which are essential in transforming agricultural and horticultural products from commodities and raw materials into food for consumption, and will include processing, packaging, logistics, distribution, retailing and consumer trends and consumer. The enabling environment, which facilitates the development of food chains, will be evaluated while the economic, social and environmental implications of food chains will be assessed within the context of the principles of sustainability. Implicit to this module is a learner-led ethos able to use integrated thinking to support stackable and discipline specific learning.
View the full module definitionThe module introduces research and research methods from the perspectives of the researcher, research manager or managerial user and gives them the opportunity to deepen more into areas of their preference. The module will discuss the research process of: identifying issues and problems; specifying research; systematic design, collecting and processing primary and secondary data and information; analysing findings using quantitative and qualitative approaches and producing conclusions, recommendations and suggestions for further investigation. Emphasis will be placed on methods that are objective, systematic, reliable, valid, ethical, effective and efficient. Guidance will also be given on the preparation of research papers and reports. Taught postgraduates from all disciplines will initially share a generic overview that is appropriate for a postgraduate understanding of research and the methods that underpin it. Thereafter, you will apply principles of research in a more contextualised approach according to their discipline. You will have the opportunity to experience the whole journey of applied research to provide answers to real-life issues in food systems- from research design to dissemination to a wide audience.
View the full module definitionThis module presents current scientific theory in sustainable farm land management and competitive food production with a specific reference to agricultural ecology and ecosystem resilience. Sustainable land management and food security requires innovative, risk-robust strategies to meet growing demands in the future and to ensure ecosystems remain fully functional and resilient to uncertain changes. Students will be able to analyse and critically evaluate current policy and strategies practiced in the UK and the wider global sphere through a review of case studies. Applications of new scientific thinking and technology will be observed. The aim of the module is to provide students with the latest applied scientific theory in sustainable farming practices, agricultural ecology and food production.
View the full module definitionThis module will enable you to understand the economic and political environment in which an arable or horticultural business operates and to develop a flexible, pragmatic approach to management based on strategic concepts and theories. Key approaches to strategy through analysis, choice, implementation and enterprise assessment will be evaluated. Options will be assessed using current case studies and materials enabling the preparation of relevant and applied business plans. These will be based on an understanding of the processes of management that are essential to both agricultural and horticultural businesses.
View the full module definitionSustainable food production is crucial to meeting the needs of future generations. There is growing pressure to reduce the environmental impacts and carbon footprint throughout the agri-food chain. In the UK, the Agricultural Act 2020 sets out to reward farmers for protecting the environment, increasing sustainable productivity, and contributing to the shift toward net zero. Similarly, the Farm to Fork strategy, published by the European Commission in May 2020, outlines ambitious 2030 targets: 50% reduction in chemical pesticide use 50% reduction in nutrient losses 20% reduction in fertiliser use 10% increase in landscape diversification Achieving these targets requires innovative approaches to improve cropping intensity and resource efficiency, while ensuring food remains accessible and affordable. Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) offers a powerful toolkit to address these challenges. CEA involves growing crops under protected environments, such as highly controlled greenhouses or indoor spaces (e.g., vertical farms) to optimise inputs like water, crop protection products, energy, and labour. This method maximises crop quality and yield, extends the growing season, and reduces resource waste. To effectively tackle climate change, it is vital that growers, researchers, and CEA technologists integrate their innovations within the broader food system. In this module, you’ll gain in-depth knowledge of CEA technologies and tools, fostering an understanding of CEA’s green potential, challenges, and emerging opportunities, including hybrid systems. By completing this module, you’ll build valuable expertise in CEA and its role in sustainable agriculture, preparing you to scale up solutions that align with the UK‘s sustainability goals.
View the full module definitionThe majority of our food systems today are unsustainable as their productivity relies mainly on 'fossil' resources that we exploit at the cost of future generations. At the same time those food systems that are sustainable still face a high risk of collapsing in the near future due to the pace of change in various environmental and socio-economic levels. Global, national and local food systems are extremely complex, and dynamic, evolving over time. They need to adapt to those emerging challenges and transition from one type to another by adopting and integrating innovative practices at any stage of the food supply chain and frequently customising those practices to regional settings to achieve maximum benefits for society, environment and the food sector. This module will broadly examine the global drivers of change in food systems and will build on future predictions to propose resilient strategic solutions to the most important challenges food systems are facing and are predicted to face in the future. The root causes of food system failures, including the areas that make food systems vulnerable (e.g. climate change, consumer trends, etc.) will be analysed. Life cycle thinking methods and complex systems approaches to understand the complexity of food systems and their value to decision-making when combined with the technological advances of our era will also be developed. Emphasis will be given on specific and recent technological innovations that promote sustainable farming systems, waste management, balance energy inputs, and end-to-end traceability, ultimately acting as driving forces in food system transformation. Innovative concepts beyond technology, in policy and community driven frameworks, that focus more on consumption and ethical values (instead of production) operating as accelerators of food system transformation will also be merited. New forms of food systems-like lab-grown alternative proteins and circular feeds- under the concept of urban agriculture will also be analysed in the context of research orientated innovations.
View the full module definitionYour Postgraduate Major Project is a substantial piece of independent research, on a specialist topic of choice allowing you the opportunity to develop and refine a project from concept through to completion. It will build on the skills and knowledge you gained through the taught element and provides you with valuable research skills training. It requires in depth logical investigation of a problem, seeking potential resolutions to an issue that is of current relevance to your discipline. The module is worth 60 credits, making up one third of your postgraduate study and requires the equivalent of 600 hours of your commitment. Depending on your area of interest, your dissertation could take the form of an investigative empirical project, or a business focussed project, case study or analysis of secondary data. Your project must be approved prior to starting and preparatory work will involve the submission of a research project proposal, the allocation of a supervisor, the completion of ethics training and the submission of Stage 1 Research Ethics application. In addition, any projects which involve human participation or work with animals, such as questionnaires and surveys will need to be approved by our School or Faculty Research Ethics Panel.
View the full module definitionEntering higher education is exciting; but it can also be a daunting experience. At ARU, we want all our students to make the most of the opportunities higher education provides, reach your potential, become lifelong learners and find fulfilling careers. However, we appreciate that the shift from secondary education, or a return to formal education is, in itself, quite a journey. This module is designed to ease that transition. You'll be enrolled on it as soon as you receive an offer from ARU so you can begin to learn about university life before your course starts. Through Into ARU, you'll explore a virtual land modelled around ARU values: Courage, Innovation, Community, Integrity, Responsibility, and Ambition. This innovative module is designed as a game, where you collect knowledge and complete mini tasks. You'll proceed at your own pace, though we you to have completed your Into ARU exploration by week 6. If for any reason you're unable to complete by that date, we'll signpost to existing services so that we can be confident that you are supported.
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