93666 - Smart Farm Management

Learning outcomes

At course completion, the student possesses knowledge on: economic and financial management of the agricultural company; management models based on digital technologies; evaluation of investments and economic impacts from the introduction of innovative production processes in the company’s system. In particular, the student possesses the skills to: organize the company using digital production and management control tools; relate the company to external information and monitoring systems such as those relating to traceability along the supply chain and those for policy management: managing information, organizational and training aspects related to innovation procedures; measure the economic performance indicators of innovative production procedures based on the use of digital technologies; recognize the strategic and organizational dimension of business activities and relations with the environment and the competitive system.

Course contents

PREREQUISITES: There are no formal prerequisites for this course. However, a basic understanding of key concepts of mathematics and statistics (such as interpreting equations and graphs) will facilitate the comprehension of the topics covered during the course.

Setting the context: Smart Farming, Sustainability and Digital Transformation

• Introduce the conceptual framework of smart and sustainable farming
• Identify the main drivers of change in agriculture and food systems
• Frame the role of digital technologies, sustainability and innovation in farm management

Strategic, Organisational and Competitive Dimensions of Smart Farms

• Understand strategic and organizational implications of innovation
• Analyse farm positioning within competitive and environmental systems
• Prepare a master budget
• Assess measures proposed by Human Resources and reflect on the role of training
  

Digital Technologies and Smart Farm Management Models

• Understand digital transformation in agriculture: benefits, trade-offs, and how to calculate and interpretate them.
• Recognise main technologies in farm management: blockchain for traceability, vertical farming, relevance of big data.

Investment Evaluation and Economic Impact of Innovation

• Evaluate investments in digital and innovative technologies
• Measure economic impacts of new production processes
• Understand the role of non-direct activities in the investment evaluation, e.g. carbon farming, CAP subsides.

Measuring Food Systems Sustainability: Life Cycle Thinking and True Cost Accounting

• Understand sustainability assessment in food and farming systems using life cycle thinking (supply chain approach)
• Analyse environmental, economic and social impacts across food system stages
• Interpret policy frameworks and stakeholder roles in smart and sustainable farming
• Apply integrated approaches to support evidence-based strategies
• Understand the principles and evolution of True Cost Accounting (TCA)

Teaching Methods

• Case-based learning (real-world farm cases)
• Problem-based learning (decision-making under uncertainty)
  
• Interactive lectures and guided discussions
• Group work and peer learning

 

Readings/Bibliography

Farm Management by R.D. Kay, W.M. Edwards, P.A. Duffy, Mc Graw Hill, 8th Edition

Managerial Accounting, by Garrison, Noreen, Brewer McGraw-Hill Education; 17 or 18 edition 

Slides, handount and articles suggested by the professor

Teaching methods

Front loaded and active learning methodologies; group and individual exercises; seminars and case studies.

Assessment methods

Students who attended at least 70% of the lectures will be required to produce a short report of around 3500 words. A concept note of the report will be validated with the professor. The final version of the report will be presented and discussed during the class, and will be evaluated by the professor.

The final grade for the module will be calculated thusly:

• In class grade: case analysis, articles revision and discussion, and other class activities (10% approximately)
• Report preparation in teams and discussion (30% approximately)
• Written exam: 60%

Non attending students will be requested to take a written exam and to produce a short report of around 3500 words. The report will be presented and discussed with the lecturer. The topic of the report should be agreed with the lecturer.

The final grade will be calculated thusly:

• Report and discussion (40% approximately)
• Written (60% approximately)

Students with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or temporary/permanent disabilities are strongly encouraged to contact the University support office in advance (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en). The office will be responsible for proposing any necessary accommodations to the students concerned. These accommodations must be submitted to the course instructor at least 15 days prior to the exam date for approval. The instructor will assess their appropriateness in light of the learning objectives of the course.

Office hours

See the website of Laura García Herrero