David Max Dubois: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2015

Name Dr. David Max Dubois
DepartmentEnvironmental Systems Science
RelationshipLecturer

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
701-0972-00LIntroduction in Organic Farming Systems3 credits2VO. Schmid, D. M. Dubois, P. J. Mäder, U. Niggli
AbstractAim:
The students shall:
- be familiar with the basic elements of ecological farming systems,
- be able to make comparisons between farming systems (organic, integrated, conventional)
Objectivesee Introduction text
ContentPART I: Introduction in Organic Farming Systems

Introduction

1. Historical Development of farming systems and agropolicies in Switzerland
Lecturers: O. Schmid, D. Dubois

2. Basic princples and requirements organic farming and critrical analyis of roots of organic farming and other farming systems.
Lecturers: U. Niggli, O. Schmid

PLANT PRODUCTION

3. Sustainable rotations, fertilisation concepts and plant nutrition
Lecturers: D. Dubois, P. Mäder, O. Schmid

4. Careful soil tillage and non-chemical weed control
Lecturer: H.U. Dierauer

5. Soil fertility - Results from long-term trials
Lecturer: P. Mäder

6.Plant protection in arable crops and in horticulture
Lecturers: D. Dubois, C. Daniel

7. Biodiversity Promotion / Strategies for breeding and choice of varieties without Genetic Engineering
Lecturers: S. Stöckli, Monika Messmer

ANIMAL PRODUCTION

8. Animal friendly animal husbandry, breeding and feeding in the practise
Lecturer: E. Meili

9. Animal health and complementary veterinary medicine
Lecturer: M. Walkenhorst

MARKET

10. Economic aspects of the conversion to organic farming: micro and macro-economic aspects
Lecturers: U. Niggli, O. Schmid

11. Marketdevelopment of label production IP and Organic
Lecturers:
Date: P. Althaus (IP Suisse) / T. Richter, O. Schmid

12. Excursion Organic farm Dietikon
Farm manager: Samuel Spahn

13. Sustainability assessment
Lecturers: Ch. Schader, Otto Schmid

14. Examination (multiple choice written test, case study)
Lecture notesWritten manuskcripts from lecturers

Scripts can be downloaded from the web with an access code through MOODLE System: https://moodle-app2.let.ethz.ch/course/view.php?id=496
LiteratureRecommended:
Otto Schmid Otto and Robert Obrist Robert (2001): Biologischer Landbau. Landwirtschaftliche Lehrmittelzentrale, Zollikofen, 267 pp (in German)

Nic Lampkin Nic, Measures Mark and Padel Susanne (2006): Organic Farm Management Handbook. University of Wales, Aberystwyth. 240pp
Prerequisites / NoticeThis course is a precondition for the participation in the Part II en bloc "Comparison of ecological farming systems"

The course can be taken alone without the Part II

Conditions for the credit points is a test.

Structure:
Part I: 14 times 2 weekly lectures
Part II: one study week with excursions, exercices and workshops (end of spring semester).
701-0974-00LComparison of Farming Systems3 credits3GO. Schmid, D. M. Dubois, U. Niggli, B.  Oehen
AbstractAim:
The students shall:
- be familiar with the basic elements of ecological farming systems,
- be able to make comparisons between farming systems (organic, integrated, conventional).
Objectivesee short description
ContentPart II: Comparision of farming systems (IP and Organic)

1. DAY
EXKURSION ART-RECKENHOLZ: METHODOLOGICAL TOOLS
- Research of ART for organic farming
- Ecological comensation in arable land /funcitonal biodiversityt
- Demonstration Trial Ferilisation of arable crops.
- Nitrate leaching in Lysimeter-trial
Speakers ART: David Dubois, Katia Jacot, René Flisch, Volker Prasuhn
.

2. DAY: EXKURSION FIBL: SYSTEM-APPROACH ORGANIC FRUIT PRODUCTION AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

- System Approach in organic fruit production.
- System Approach in animal health management.
Speakers FiBL: Franco Weibel, C. Daniel, M. Walkenhorst, V. Maurer or F. Heckendorn

3. DAY: SYSTEM-APPROACH IN ARABLE PRODUCTION AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTION

Exkursion to Dällikon/ZH, Bruederhof of K. Günthart
- Intensice arable and vegetable production
- Biogas on the farm.
Afternoon:
Exkursion to Murimoos/AG
- System Approach for plant nutrition and composting
Exkursion on farm Wilhof, Muri
Speakers: Landwirte: Kaspar Günthardt, Alois Kohler, H. P. Müller, u.a.

Overnight on farm (Sleeping in straw) near Willisau


4. GRASLAND¬SYSTEMS AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Morning:
- Systemapproach in fodder production (farm visit)
- Excursion to Burgrain/LU - farm of Agrovision
- Cooperative farm with moderne robotics-based milk production
Afternoon:
- Visit Agrovision Burgrain with on-farm processing, farm shop and resturant.

Lecturers: X. Egli, J. Häfliger, Andreas Nussbaumer, A. Lieberherr,


5. DAY: ZUKUNFTS-PERSPEKTIVEN, ENTWICKLUNGSPOTENTIALE
ETH lecturer room

Morning:
- Food Quality in comparison: trends, development potentials
- Farm-level development potentials
- Evaluation reports about the farms visited (Group work).

Afternoon:
- Presentation group results
- Future scenarios 2020/2030 for food sector and rural space in Switzerland
- Presentation of group works (1. Bioland CH, 2. Free trade, 3. Landscape farming)
- Final discussion
Lecturers: Berndatte Oehen, Otto Schmid, D. Dubois, Students.
Lecture notesScripts are distributed in the course

Scripts can be downloaded from the web with an access code from MOODLE System: https://moodle-app2.let.ethz.ch/course/view.php?id=496
LiteratureRecommended:

Otto Schmid Otto and Robert Obrist Robert (2001): Biologischer Landbau. Landwirtschaftliche Lehrmittelzentrale, Zollikofen, 267 pp (in German)

Dierks R./Heitefuss R. (Hrsg.), 1994: Integrierter Landbau. Verlagsunion Agrar.

Nic Lampkin Nic, Measures Mark and Padel Susanne (2006): Organic Farm Management Handbook. University of Wales, Aberystwyth. 240pp
Prerequisites / NoticePrecondition for this course is the participation in the introductionary course "Organic Farming Systems" in the former courses.

The course cannot only be taken when the Part I has been followed or with good documented knowledge of organic farming

Condition for credit points is the active participation in the course.

Structure:
one study week with excursions, exercices and workshops.