Curricular structure

Curriculum Components (Credits)

MANDATORIES

AGROECOLOGY (3)
Origin and development of agriculture and the modification of natural ecosystems. Agriculture and environmental and social crisis. Agroecology: concepts and principles. The role of biodiversity in agroecosystems. The socioeconomic dynamics in agroecology. Flows in agroecosystems. Regulation of Agroecology and Organic Agriculture in Brazil.

SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT (3)
The growth versus development debate and the environmental issue. Origins, metamorphoses and the contemporary debate about development. Sustainable Development and its reviews. Social theory, capitalism and family farming. Peasantry theory. The Brazilian debate on family farming: forms of organization, diversification, pluriactivity and multifunctionality. The actors of rural development. Public policies for rural development.

SCIENCE METHODOLOGY AND EPISTEMOLOGY (2)
Introduction to the philosophy of Science, methodology and methods. Epistemological aspects in science. The construction of scientific knowledge. Problematization, hypotheses and objectives of research in agroecology and sustainable rural development in an interdisciplinary approach. Introduction to research methods and forms of scientific interpretation of the reality of the natural and social world. Technical norms of scientific production.

INTERDISCIPLINARY PRACTICE WORKSHOPS I (2)
Formation of interdisciplinary teams and elaboration of common study planning. Initial discussion about the possibilities of delimitation of a common research object. Reading of bibliographic and documentary materials about the wider region of interest and collective work on these materials. Definition of preliminary questions for the class as a whole. Theoretical studies to define a common conceptual framework. Preparation of an orientation grid for data collection aiming the characterization of the study sites. Interdisciplinary analysis and evaluation of common research spaces.

INTERDISCIPLINARY PRACTICE WORKSHOPS II (2)
Carrying out preliminary data research from the common orientation grid. Discussion and definition of research problems of each master degree student. Preparation of dissertation projects and discussion of them with the presence of teachers involved with the class; presentation and discussion of projects with their interdisciplinary interfaces. Prequalification of individual research projects.

ELECTIVES

SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF SUSTAINABILITY IN AGROECOSYSTEMS (3)
The socioenvironmental issue seen as an object of interdisciplinary research and as a social problem. Principles and currents of development socioeconomics and their discussions on sustainability. Social and economic organization of agroecological and conventional production in agroecosystems and contradictions with the prospect of sustainable rural development. Sustainability indicators in agroecosystems. Socioeconomic viability of agroecosystems in the conventional and agroecological perspectives.

AGROECOLOGICAL AQUACULTURE (3)
Agroecological aquaculture production systems. Nutrition and feeding of aquatic organisms in agroecological system. Technological innovations. National and international standards for organic certification for aquaculture. Handling plan. Agroecological transition.

BEHAVIOR OF PLANTS UNDER BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC STRESS IN AGROECOSYSTEMS (3)
Biomolecule biochemistry - structure and function; Types, sources and functions of reactive species and free radicals; Oxidative Stress and Harmful Effects of Reactive Species on Cellular Components; Antioxidant defense system; Photosynthesis and cellular respiration;
Plant defense responses to stress and tolerance mechanisms; Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants; Oxidative stress assessment methods at molecular, cellular and organizational levels.

POLITICAL ECONOMY OF NATURE (3)
Ethics and economics. (Neo)Classical economics and (un)exhaustible factors of production. The growth x development debate and the environment. Economics of natural resources. Environmental economics. The institutionalist apparatus and the emergence of multidisciplinary studies: the ecological economy and the emergence of territorial studies. Case studies.

ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY (3)
Different historical processes of human intervention on the environment. Influences of the natural environment on human societies in different historical and ecological contexts, considering the comparative possibilities between different historical-ecological configurations. Forms of agricultural practice and the agricultural policies involved. Role of practices and policies in environmental transformations. Forms of interpretation of the environment (social, political and cultural thinking). Ecological variables in the understanding of historical processes.

ECOLOGICAL HANDLING OF SOIL AND FERTILITY OF SYSTEMS (3)
Soil functions in agroecosystems; physical, chemical and biological characterization of soils; matter and energy flows in the soil; physical, chemical and biological interactions and soil fertility; system fertility; soil degradation processes; environmental (and social) impacts of land use and management; soil management, soil conservation and  restoration; soil classification as a tool for agroecological management; sustainability of the production system in relation to the soil subsystem.

AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND PASTORAL SYSTEMS (3)
Main concepts in agriculture, forestry and pastoral systems; Integration of production systems; ecology of agriculture, forestry and pastoral systems; nutrient cycling; redesign of sustainable agroecosystems; interaction between agroecosystems and natural ecosystems; interaction between animal and crop agroecosystems; plant management practices; management and conservation of genetic variability; animal management practices; Multi-purpose species; Technical, social and economic aspects.

SOVEREIGNTY, FOOD SECURITY AND PUBLIC POLICY (3)
The process of disconnecting the food supply chain and its complexification. Sociology of food and role of consumption in the modern agrifood system. Food empires. Short supply circuits and their immersion in specific social values and practices. Food and Nutrition Security and Sovereignty policies and the different attitudes of the State regarding the confrontation of income inequalities and nutritional, social and environmental problems. Human Right to Adequate Food. National Food and Nutrition Security System – SISAN. Sustainable diets for agri-food system changes to ensure Food and Nutrition Sovereignty and Security. Public Food Purchasing - School Meals Program and Food Acquisition Program.

SPECIAL TOPICS (3)
It aims to address related topics to the course proposal coming from both exchange and cooperation activities of the course that enable the broadening of the topics to be addressed, as possible research demands or areas of interest of freshmen. Possible topics are: rural sanitation; social technologies for water management; Water quality bioindicators; rural education; systemic approach; agri-food enterprises; participatory certification; agroecosystem resilience to climate change; sustainability indicators in agroecosystem; gender equality; vegetarianism and animal rights; among others. The program will be approved by the course board whenever the course is offered.

VEGETABLE HEALTH (3)
Main concepts. Main agents that affect plant health. General principles of control. Integration of the various control methods and cultural practices. Biological control of pests and diseases. Physical and cultural methods for prevention and control of phytophagous and pathogens. Alternative methods in plant protection. Resistance induction in plants. Role of biodiversity in plant protection.

BIOACTIVE PLANTS IN AGROECOSYSTEMS (3)
Identification and importance of bioactive plants in agroecosystems. Potential use of bioactive plants in the redesign of agroecosystems. Secondary metabolites of interest. Bioactive plant derivatives in alternative control of plant pests and diseases. Environmental, social and economic aspects of phytosanitary ecological management in sustainable agroecosystems.

AGROECOSYSTEM REDESIGN (3)
Population ecology in agroecosystems. Problems with pest populations, diseases and spontaneous plants in agroecosystems. The management of undesirable populations in conventional agriculture. Environmental, economic and public health problems of conventional management. Natural enemies of undesirable populations in agroecosystems. Ecological principles for the management and monitoring of unwanted populations in agroecosystems. The design of agroecosystems and the population dynamics of undesirable populations.

RURAL ENVIRONMENT SOCIOLOGY (3)
Theories and approaches on rural societies. Family farming and peasantry. Agriculture of traditional populations: interfaces of agrarian sciences and social sciences. Rural extension and praxis in agroecology.

FAMILY PRODUCTION UNITS MANAGEMENT (3)
Economic diagnosis of an agricultural production unit; Economic outcome measures;
Production costs; Production planning; Family succession; Specificities of rural family management; Agricultural economics and agroecology. Analysis of Rural Management Models

INSTRUMENTATION AND LABORATORY TECHNIQUES OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND METABOLISM OF LIVING ORGANISMS (4)
General considerations on the use of laboratories; Instrumentation; Collection and preparation of animal and plant samples; Preparation of solutions and standard curve; Techniques for the extraction, separation, identification and quantification of biomolecules and Techniques for the evaluation of enzymatic activity of animal and plant tissues.
Bibliographies

THE AGROECOLOGICAL TRANSITION METHOD (3)
Fundamentals of the historical and dialectical materialist method (HDMM); HDMM and agroecology; Initial aspects of the materiality of the agroecological transition;
Productive forces and production social relations in agroecology; Emerging categories and concepts; Technologies in capitalism and their alienating or emancipating potential. Transition methodologies in specific experiments (rice, vegetables, milk).

HISTORY, LIVESTOCK AND ANIMAL RIGHTS
Human uses of animals throughout history and their representations: companion animals (pets), work animals, food, clothing and scientific research. Attitudes and perceptions towards animals throughout history. Environmental and social impacts of animal production: water, soil, forests, climate, land use, labor and health. History of animal rights. The debate about animal welfare in recent decades. The Green Revolution and the Meat Industry.