BIOL20050
Source: https://hub.ucd.ie/usis/!W_HU_MENU.P_PUBLISH?p_tag=MODULE&MODULE=BIOL20050&TERMCODE=202500&ACYR=2026 Parent: https://hub.ucd.ie/usis/!W_HU_MENU.P_PUBLISH?p_tag=COURSE&MAJR=CPS1&AUDIENCE=
Academic Year 2025/2026
Climate Change and Agriculture (BIOL20050)
Subject: : Biology
College: : Science
School: : Biology & Environment Science
Level: : 2 (Intermediate)
Credits: : 5
Module Coordinator: : Dr Tamara Hochstrasser
Trimester: : Autumn
Mode of Delivery: : On Campus
Internship Module: : No
How will I be graded? : Letter grades
Curricular information is subject to change.
How are we going to feed 9 billion people in a warmer world? This module addresses the causes and consequences of climate change with regard to agriculture. Agriculture is an important contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, but it is also very vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In Ireland about a third of the national greenhouse gas emissions are due to agriculture thus to reduce greenhouse gas emissions nationally innovative solutions to land use have to be found. In this module, you will learn to explain what climate change is and how it affects agriculture globally. Based on this understanding, you will be able to explore mitigation and adaptation options for agriculture with regard to climate change. For climate change mitigation in Ireland, Teagasc suggested five pathways to carbon neutrality. In this module, we are going to reflect on all of these greenhouse gas mitigation measures and what effects they may have both locally and globally. The module is meant to be one that allows you to develop your research techniques and the sourcing and critical evaluation of information about agriculture and climate change. We will discuss livestock management options, food choice, agricultural efficiency and bioenergy. What you learn in this module will sharpen your skills in building arguments and help people devise innovative ways of feeding 9 billion people in a warmer world - be it as a farmer, a scientist or an informed consumer.\ \
About this Module
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What will I learn?
Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this module students should be able to:\ \ 1. Describe why and how current climate change is happening.\ 2. Describe how agriculture is contributing to climate change and how it can adapt to climate change.\ 3. Discuss the variety of options open to Irish agriculture for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from land use.\ 4. Give feedback to peers about topics related to climate change and agriculture.
Indicative Module Content:
Indicative syllabus\ The module addresses both Climate change and Agriculture, they will be addressed in parallel in the module. \ \ Climate change:\ What is climate change?\ Impacts of climate change\ Types of greenhouse gases\ Radiation and temperature\ Greenhouse gas effect\ Feedbacks in the climate system\ Future climate scenarios \ Policy options for climate change mitigation\ The Irish Climate Action Plan\ Mitigation potential across sectors\ The carbon cycle\ Taking climate action\ \ Agriculture\ Overview over Irish agriculture and land use policy\ Crop cycle/ livestock production cycle and dependence on weather thereof\ What are the vulnerabilities of a farm to extreme weather\ Climate change adaptation on farms\ Agricultural innovation paradigms\ Lifecycle assessment\ What produces greenhouse gases on a farm\ How can we reduce GHG emissions on a farm \ The Teagasc Signpost Farm programme\ Food choice\ Carbon offsetting\ Anaerobic digestion\ Carbon sequestration in soils and forests\
How will I learn?
Student Effort Hours:
| Student Effort Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Specified Learning Activities | 50 |
| Autonomous Student Learning | 51 |
| Lectures | 19 |
| Tutorial | 5 |
| --- | --- |
| Total | 125 |
\
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module encourages active participation of students and peer-to-peer learning. After a number of initial lectures in weeks 1-2 of the trimester, we will switch to a tutorial-based learning, with student presentations and peer-learning through discussion in tutorials. Attendance will be required once a week, except for week 7 when we will meet for a guest lecture from Teagasc and week 12 for the summary lecture. Students will be required to watch module videos provided by the lecturer every week and come to class prepared for discussion. Students will be expected to support their learning by completing assigned readings throughout the trimester. Class discussions will explore the physics of climate change, as well as pressing issues with regard to climate change policy, adaptation and mitigation in Irish agriculture and the urgency of climate action.
Am I eligible to take this module?
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:\
Information skills (library usage, online search)\ Basic sciences (chemistry, physics, geography)
\
Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:\ Global Environment (BIOL20010)\ \ \ \
How will I be assessed?
Assessment Strategy
| Description | Timing | Component Scale | Must Pass Component | % of Final Grade | In Module Component Repeat Offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Project: Short oral presentation to a group of students, with prior submission of recording of this oral presentation. One submission per student. Submission time varies over the trimester according to topic. | Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11 | Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% | No | 45 | No |
| Participation in Learning Activities: Preparation and participation in tutorial discussions. | Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11 | Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% | No | 5 | No |
| Exam (In-person): In-person Multiple Choice Question exam. | End of trimester Duration: 1 hr(s) | Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% | No | 50 | No |
\
Carry forward of passed components
Yes
\
What happens if I fail?
| Resit In | Terminal Exam |
|---|---|
| Spring | Yes - 1 Hour |
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. \
Assessment feedback
Feedback Strategy/Strategies
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment\
How will my Feedback be Delivered?
Feedback on oral presentations will be provided post assessment through Brightspace. Discussion of presentation material in class during tutorial.
Associated Staff
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Dr Elke Eichelmann | Lecturer / Co-Lecturer |
| Dr Tamara Hochstrasser | Lecturer / Co-Lecturer |
When is this module offered?
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
| Autumn | Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 11 | Fri 13:00 - 13:50 |
| Autumn | Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 | Thurs 13:00 - 13:50 |
| Autumn | Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks | Tues 13:00 - 13:50 |