Climate Change & Agricultural Adaptation

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

170 hours

To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted in the Graduate Certificate in Climate Change for Primary Industry. This subject is not available for students admitted in any other courses.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit:
http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Global Warming is now a reality and the resultant changes in climate will dramatically affect the demographics of the world’s food production in the next half century. This subject will examine the potential impacts of current and projected future changes to the climates of world’s major agricultural areas on food production.

The objective of this subject is to use Australian agriculture with its broad range of industries and climatic zones as an exemplar of the potential adaptation strategies that may be implemented to ensure the sustainability of food production.

On completion of this subject, students are expected to be better able to:

• Understand the principles of adaptation (incremental through to transformational) and an ability to articulate what this looks like in their region/industry
• Briefly discuss the global context for food supply.
• Discuss adaptation to climate in context with other key drivers affecting industry productivity and terms of trade (markets, genetics, logistics, input and labour costs, etc).
• Understand some of the barriers/constraints to adaptation and discuss possible remedies.
• Be aware of tools, approaches, processes, examples being used to help deliver "adaptation" on the ground.
• Be able to articulate adaptation pathways for their situation (whether it be industry, region or individual farm specific).
• Collect, evaluate and integrate policy information and published literature
• Work constructively with colleagues; respect the value of other points of view, and identify knowledge gaps
• Prepare written documents of a high quality that clearly and convincingly inform the reader.

• oral presentation during intensive workshop (20%)
• computer-based problem completed during the intensive workshop (10%)
• 3000 word essay due four weeks after the intensive workshop (70%).

Stokes, C., Howden, M., (2010) Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change. CSIRO Publishing, Australia 2010

(Available from the Melbourne University Bookshop)

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• A profound respect for truth, intellectual and professional integrity, and the ethics of scholarship Capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning and research An ability to derive, interpret and analyse social, technical or economic information from primary and other sources
• Awareness of and ability to utilise appropriate communication technology and methods for the storage, management and analysis of data
• Capacity for creativity and innovation, through the application of skills and knowledge
• Ability to integrate information across a relevant discipline to solve problems in applied situations
• Highly developed computer - based skills to allow for effective on-line learning and communication.
• Highly developed written communication skills to allow informed dialogue with individuals and groups from industry, government and the community
• Highly developed oral communication skills to allow informed dialogue and liaison with individuals and groups from industry, government and the community.
• Appreciation of social and cultural diversity from a regional to a global context
• Ability to participate effectively as a member of a team
• Ability to plan work, use time effectively and manage small projects