Agriculture Bill: Land & Property courses cover key policy matters

Ag Bill latest stage: January 16, 2020. First reading in the House of Commons

As the Agriculture Bill makes its way through Parliament, we’ve been gathering responses from members of the university community on what it means for the future of farming and the rural sector. Today, two of our academic staff explain how they have been gearing up for the changes in the Bill through Land & Property Management curriculum developments. 

 
Dr Richard Byrne, Senior Lecturer

The new Agriculture Bill brings some unique opportunities and challenges to UK agriculture as the nation seeks to redefine its relationship with the EU and the rest of the world. Changes to farm support, ambitious incorporation of ‘public goods’ and a re-configured agri-environmental packages requires expert advice and skill to ensure UK farming remains competitive and relevant in the 21st Century.

The UK agricultural sector has much to offer the global marketplace and needs to build upon its existing efficiency, high welfare standards and environmental measures to sustain and grow agri-food production.

The Land Management courses at HAU provide that core knowledge, experience and skillset to take on this challenge and will help you be part of a dynamic globally focussed sustainable food chain.

Susan Ragbourne, Associate Head of Department for Land Management

When we revalidated our courses in 2017 we introduced a new final year module called Global Agricultural Trade Policies. This new module allows students to think beyond our trading links with the European Union and to consider the wider opportunities of global agricultural trade networks.

We also consider emerging agricultural policy in the first year module Rural Geography and Economics.

Second year students study a Farming Systems and the Environment module, which will move from looking at Countryside Stewardship to covering the new Environmental Land Management schemes as they are developed by DEFRA.