BACKGROUND. Integrated approach to sustainability. Circular Economy. International trade, customs controls and frauds. Raw materials, commodities and life cycle.
RESOURCES, CERTIFICATIONS AND SUPPLY CHAINS. Air, water, soil. Energy. Quality management systems. Environmental certifications and labels. Corporate social responsibility. Supply chains and traceability.
Lecture notes and slides provided by the teachers and available on Moodle.
Learning Objectives
Knowledge and understanding: Acquisition of basic knowledge on sustainability, circular economy, international trade and customs, commodities and life cycle, environmental impacts of production on air, water, soil and characteristics of the main renewable energy sources. Knowledge of management systems and their application to production chains. Tools for understanding the quality of raw materials and resources, also in relation to social and ecological impacts along with all phases of the supply chain. Ability to understand the development-production-commodity interaction at the local level.
Applying knowledge and understanding: Assumption of the mentality of “commodity scientist” in order to understand problems, formulate and test sustainable and effective solutions, with an integrated and circular economy approach. To be able to design and implement, in contexts of international cooperation, adequate actions for the sustainability of the supply chains and production processes.
Prerequisites
None.
Teaching Methods
Lectures, seminars, case studies, project work.
Further information
Some lessons are held at the Laboratory of Commodity Science and Quality of Resources at the Social Sciences Pole.
Type of Assessment
For attending students:
Project work on an assigned value chain
For non-attending students:
- Final oral exam on lessons 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 23.
Course program
PART 1 - SUSTAINABILITY, CIRCULAR ECONOMY, INNOVATION
Wed 26/02/2020 - 1. Introduction to the course. Integrated approach to sustainability and the circular economy (Pinelli / Borsacchi)
Fri 28/02/2020 - 2. International trade and customs controls (Borsacchi)
Wed 04/03/2020 - 3. Goods and commercial fraud (Pinelli)
Fri 06/03/2020 - 4. Laboratory activities, analytical quality control tests (Pinelli)
Wed 11/03/2020 - 5. From linear economy to circular economy (Borsacchi)
Ver 13/03/2020 - 6. Air, water, soil: environmental impacts (Pinelli)
Wed 18/03/2020 - 7. Water as a resource. Treatment and reuse (Pinelli)
Fri 20/03/2020 - 8. Soil, fertilization, biological production, precision agriculture (Pinelli)
Wed 25/03/2020 - 9. Production processes and life cycle, flow charts (Borsacchi)
Fri 27/03/2020 - 10. Food hygiene and safety (Pinelli)
PART 2 - RESOURCES, CERTIFICATIONS AND SUPPLY CHAINS
Wed 01/04/2020 - 11. MIDTERM + HACCP and food hygiene (Borsacchi)
Fri 04/04/2020 - 12. Energy and resources (Pinelli)
Wed 08/04/2020 - 13. The coffee supply chain (Pinelli)
Fri 04/17/2020 - 14. Standardization and certification. Technical regulations (Borsacchi)
Wed 22/04/2020 - 15. Quality management systems, ISO 9001 (Borsacchi)
Fri 24/04/2020 - 16. Environmental management systems and environmental brands (Borsacchi)
Wed 29/04/2020 - 17. Waste management, valorisation of by-products (Borsacchi)
Wed 06/05/2020 - 18. Textile fibers. The textile / clothing supply chain (Pinelli)
Fri 08/05/2020 - 19. Safety in the workplace and corporate social responsibility (Borsacchi)
Wed 13/05/2020 - 20. The sugar cane chain (Borsacchi)
PART 3 - CASE STUDIES AND PROJECT WORK
Fri 15/05/2020 - 21. Laboratory activities or guided tour (Pinelli)
Wed 20/05/2020 - 22. Case studies and supply chains: dates, cherries, aloe vera (Pinelli / Borsacchi)
Fri 05/22/2020 - 23. Case studies: Circular economy at urban level (Pinelli / Borsacchi)
Wed 27/05/2020 - 24. Project work presentation
Fri 29/05/2020 - 25. Presentation of project work