PEPS 310

Environment & Agriculture: Conserving and Cultivating
Course Syllabus
Instructor: Spring 2008: Dr. E.M. Villalobos, guest lectures: Dr. M.G. Wright, Dr. A.M. Wieczorek.
Contact details, Gilmore Hall 511, 3050 Maile Way , UH Mānoa Campus
Email for Ethel Villalobos, emv@hawaii.edu

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The following topics will be covered in ~ 45 lectures: (about 32 sessions of 1 hr15 min.)

Background :

1. Agricultural impacts:

Lecture 1: Food production; Habitat destruction; Environmental contamination associated with agriculture; Trade-offs to consider: food production vs. environment?
Lecture 2: Positive impacts of agriculture; Ethics – cultivation vs. conservation.
Lecture 3: Conservation of germplasm; 1 st world vs. 3 rd world perspectives.

1. Industrial impacts:

Lecture 4: Brief overview: Impacts of industry on habitats in comparison to agricultural impacts; Pollution from industry; Agrochemical companies;
Lecture 5: Comparison of industrial and agricultural impacts; Management systems, e.g. ISO 14000 series.

1. Sustainability:

Lecture 6: Inputs vs. outputs; Low-input agriculture;
Lecture 7: Cultural options; Environmental ethics: high-input and low-input agriculture
Lecture 8: Integrated Pest Management;
Lecture 9: Conservation agriculture concepts.

Selected Problems – With an Emphasis on Topics Germane to PEPS :

1. Invasive species:

Lecture 10 What are they and why are they invasive; What defines weeds, pests; Invasive plants, insects, vertebrates, pathogens in Hawaii and elsewhere; Lecture 11 Ethical considerations: global translocation of organisms; Impacts and management options.

Insect pest and plant disease management :

Lecture 12: Why do some species become pests; Magnitude of their impacts – agricultural, ecological and societal;
Lecture 13: Pest management options; Types of pesticides;
Lecture 14: Ethics – insecticides, biological control;
Lecture 15: Potential effects of pesticides on humans; Non-target impacts: ecosystems, beneficial organisms;
Lecture 16: Novel directions in pesticide development.

Food contamination:

Lecture 17: Types of contamination – insecticide residues;
Lecture 18: EPA regulations; Pesticide residues;
Lecture 19:“Full-cup” concept and children’s diets with regard to pesticides; FQPA implications and implementation.

Managing Impacts– Cultivation with Conservation:

1. Biological control of invasive species:

Lecture 20: Concepts and implementation of biocontrol;
Lecture 21: Positive and potential negative impacts; Use in controlling weeds, insects, plant pathogens;
Lecture 22: Risk assessment;
Lecture 23: Ethical considerations – “homogenocene”, non-target impacts;
Lecture 24-25: Alternatives that may be combined with biocontrol - IPM.

1. Bioremediation:

Lecture 26: Concepts and implementation;
Lecture 27-28: Applications and benefits.

1. Biotechnology:

Lecture 29: Concepts and implementation;
Lecture 30: Application in pest management, food safety;
Lecture 31: Environmental impacts;
Lecture 32: Benefits and risks;
Lecture 33: Ethical considerations.

1. Amelioration / remediation of impacts:

Lecture 34: Conservation biology;
Lecture 35: Conservation agriculture;
Lecture 36: ECO-OK certification – with Hawaiian examples;
Lecture 37: PESP in Hawaii ;
Lecture 38: Conservation areas and interactions with agriculture;
Lecture 39: Habitat corridors;
Lecture 40-43: Recent developments in environmental management relevant to agriculture; ISO 14000, international business practices and agriculture.

Conclusion.