Agriculture, Economics and Nature from Coursera

Sound economic thinking is crucial for farmers because they depend on good economic decision making to survive. Governments depend on economic information to make good policy decisions on behalf of the community. This course will help you to contribute to better decision making by farmers, or by agencies servicing agriculture, and it will help you to understand why farmers respond to policies and economic opportunities in the ways they do.

You can use this course to improve your skills and knowledge and to assess whether this is a subject that you'd like to study further. The course includes high-quality video lectures, interviews with experts, demonstrations of how to build economic models in spreadsheets, practice quizzes, and a range of recommended readings and optional readings. Assessment is by quizzes and a final exam.

The key economic principles that we’ll learn about can help us understand changes that have occurred in agriculture, and support improved decision making about things like agricultural production methods, agricultural input levels, resource conservation, and the balance between agricultural production and its environmental impacts.

There are literally thousands of agricultural economists around the world who work on these issues, so there is a wealth of knowledge to draw on for the course.

Watch a brief video about our course here: https://youtu.be/Y8OGswUXx48

What's inside

Syllabus

Agricultural production and prices, and agriculture’s reliance on natural resources

Week 1 provides a history of agricultural production and prices, an examination into the reasons behind changes in production and prices, and discussions of the 2007 global food crisis and agriculture’s usage of resources.

Resource and environmental challenges facing agriculture

Week 2 addresses the agricultural issues of water availability, peak phosphorus, herbicide resistance, and climate change.

The economics of agricultural inputs

Week 3 looks at the relationship between inputs and outputs, the optimal level of an input, the question of pollution from inputs, and flat payoff functions.

The economics of land conservation

Week 4 focuses on evaluating land conservation practices, weighing benefits and costs correctly, non-economic factors, and provides an example in conservation agriculture.

The economics of agri-environmental projects

Week 5 discusses the importance of extending economics beyond the farm gate, characteristics of agri-environmental projects, Benefit: Cost Analysis, and provides an example with Gippsland Lakes.

Government policies in agriculture

Week 6 ties up the course through discussion of government policies that support agriculture, policies that protect the rural environment, policies with problems, and justifications for agricultural policy.

Final Exam

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides a foundation in economic principles for agricultural decision-making and policy analysis

Taught by a renowned agricultural economist, Professor David Pannell, who is recognized for his work in agricultural economics

Offers a comprehensive overview of agricultural economics, covering production, prices, natural resources, environmental challenges, inputs, land conservation, and government policies

Emphasizes practical applications, with demonstrations of spreadsheet modeling and real-world examples

Provides assessment through quizzes and a final exam, ensuring accountability and learning reinforcement

Does not require extensive prerequisites, making it accessible to learners with a basic understanding of economics

Reviews summary

Relevant, practical agri-economics course

Learners say that "Agriculture, Economics and Nature" is a largely positive course that engaging assignments on agriculture, economics, and nature. Many students comment on how this course has helped them to improve their understanding of the role of economics in agriculture while also gaining a new appreciation for sustainable approaches. Students indicate that this course is taught with clarity by an expert in the field. While some reviewers indicated difficulty with some of the exams, they suggest that the course is well worth the investment of time and highly recommend it. Overall, learners say that this course offers an excellent foundation and practical knowledge for anyone interested in a deeper understanding of the relationship between agriculture and economics and its impact on nature.

While some learners found the course to be difficult, most agreed that it was a worthwhile challenge.

"special thanks to professor David Pannel your teachings are quality and am totally happy to be one of your students the course was nice even though it was difficult to complete"

"This course is very important and cover almost entirely the agricultural economics field."

"The lectures and accompanying notes were very useful."

This course provides a unique perspective on the environmental and economic aspects of agriculture.

"The course has encouraged me to learn further the topic of Environmental Economics."

"A very informative course. Professor David Pannel explained all economic theories very well that the learners could understand them."

"This course e bastante interessante e ajuda a identificar aspectos que no quotidiano tem passado muito despercebido e que muita das vezes parecem nao ser inportantes."

Professor Pannell clearly explains economic theories and presents insightful and broad content.

"Professor David Pannell explained all economic theories very well..."

"I learned a great deal in just a few weeks. Professor David Pannell delivered the course very well."

"This course provided a concise yet comprehensive overview of important topics in agriculture, offering valuable insights and enhancing my understanding of key concepts."

Learners gain practical knowledge that can be applied to real-world situations in agriculture, economics, and nature.

"With the aid of this course i have learned numerous vital aspects related to the agri-business management like inter relationship between cost supply and demand."

"The course is awesome. The curriculum is of high standard."

"I have a passion for agriculture and providing quality foods for the less privileged. With this course I have discovered that being a good farmer goes beyond planting your seeds into the soil..."

A few learners mentioned some difficulty with the final exam.

"Buen curso, el único problema fue el examen final, pues no te indica en qué te equivocaste o acertaste, y pienso que mínimo te deberían dar un feedback, pasé sin saber en qué acerté o me equivoqué del todo."

"Generally a useful and informative course. I found some questions a little ambiguous. For example Q 36 of the final exam..."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Agriculture, Economics and Nature with these activities:

Review the basics of microeconomics

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Reviewing the basics of microeconomics will help you understand the economic principles that will be discussed in this course.

Browse courses on Microeconomics

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Read through your old microeconomics textbook or notes.
Take practice quizzes or exams to test your understanding.
Watch online videos or tutorials on microeconomic concepts.

Learn how to use spreadsheets to build economic models

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Building economic models in spreadsheets will help you apply the economic principles you learn in this course to real-world situations.

Browse courses on Economic Modeling

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Find online tutorials on how to use spreadsheets to build economic models.
Follow the tutorials and build your own simple economic model.
Test your model with different data to see how it performs.

Practice solving economic problems

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Practice solving economic problems will help you develop your analytical skills and apply the economic principles you learn in this course.

Browse courses on Economics

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Find practice problems online or in textbooks.
Solve the problems using the economic principles you have learned.
Check your answers against the solutions provided.

One other activity

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Show all four activities

Write a blog post or article on an agricultural economic topic

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Writing a blog post or article on an agricultural economic topic will help you synthesize your knowledge of the subject and improve your communication skills.

Browse courses on Agricultural Economics

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Choose an agricultural economic topic that you are interested in.
Research the topic and gather information from credible sources.
Write a clear and concise blog post or article that explains the topic in a way that is easy to understand.
Publish your blog post or article online.

Career center

Learners who complete Agriculture, Economics and Nature will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Economist

Economists study the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. They work in a variety of fields, including government, business, and academia. This course would be helpful for Economists because it provides a comprehensive overview of the economic principles that affect agriculture. This knowledge can be used to develop better economic policies and programs that support the agriculture industry.

See salaries and explore the career path for Economist

Farm Manager

Farm Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of farms. They make decisions about what crops to plant, how to market products, and how to manage finances. This course would be very helpful for Farm Managers because it provides a strong foundation in the economic principles that affect the agriculture industry. This knowledge can be used to make better decisions about how to run a farm, which can lead to increased productivity and profitability.

See salaries and explore the career path for Farm Manager

Agricultural Economist

Agricultural Economists apply economic principles to the agriculture industry. They analyze data, develop models, and provide recommendations on how to improve the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural systems. This course would be very helpful for Agricultural Economists because it provides a comprehensive overview of the economic principles that affect agriculture. This knowledge can be used to develop better policies and programs that support the agriculture industry.

See salaries and explore the career path for Agricultural Economist

Natural Resource Economist

Natural Resource Economists study the economic value of natural resources, such as water, land, and minerals. They develop policies and programs to ensure that these resources are used sustainably. This course would be helpful for Natural Resource Economists because it provides a strong foundation in the economic principles that affect the use of natural resources. This knowledge can be used to develop better policies and programs that protect the environment and promote economic development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Natural Resource Economist

Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts develop and evaluate public policies. They work with government agencies, businesses, and community groups to identify problems and develop solutions. This course would be helpful for Policy Analysts because it provides a strong foundation in the economic principles that affect public policy. This knowledge can be used to develop better policies that address the needs of the public.

See salaries and explore the career path for Policy Analyst

Sustainability Consultant

Sustainability Consultants help organizations to reduce their environmental impact and improve their social and economic performance. They work with a variety of stakeholders, including businesses, governments, and community groups. This course would be helpful for Sustainability Consultants because it provides a strong foundation in the economic principles that affect sustainability. This knowledge can be used to develop more effective sustainability strategies and programs.

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Wildlife Biologist

Wildlife Biologists study the behavior, ecology, and conservation of wildlife. They work with a variety of stakeholders, including government agencies, businesses, and community groups. This course would be helpful for Wildlife Biologists because it provides a strong foundation in the economic principles that affect wildlife conservation. This knowledge can be used to develop more effective wildlife conservation policies and programs.

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Water Resource Manager

Water Resource Managers oversee the planning, development, and management of water resources. They work with a variety of stakeholders, including government agencies, businesses, and community groups. This course would be helpful for Water Resource Managers because it provides a strong foundation in the economic principles that affect water resources. This knowledge can be used to develop more effective water management policies and programs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Water Resource Manager

Agricultural and Food Science Technician

Agricultural and Food Science Technicians conduct experiments, analyze data, and develop new products and processes related to agriculture and food production. This course would be helpful for Agricultural and Food Science Technicians because it provides a strong foundation in the economic principles that affect the agriculture industry. This knowledge can be used to develop more efficient and sustainable agricultural practices, which can lead to increased productivity and profitability.

See salaries and explore the career path for Agricultural and Food Science Technician

Environmental Scientist

Environmental Scientists study the environment and develop solutions to environmental problems. They work with a variety of stakeholders, including government agencies, businesses, and community groups. This course would be helpful for Environmental Scientists because it provides a strong foundation in the economic principles that affect the environment. This knowledge can be used to develop more effective environmental policies and programs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Scientist

Research Scientist

Research Scientists conduct experiments and analyze data to develop new knowledge. They work in a variety of fields, including agriculture, environmental science, and economics. This course would be helpful for Research Scientists because it provides a strong foundation in the economic principles that affect research. This knowledge can be used to design more effective research projects and to communicate research findings to policymakers and the public.

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Actuary

Actuaries use mathematical and statistical methods to assess risk and uncertainty. They work in a variety of fields, including insurance, finance, and healthcare. This course may be helpful for Actuaries because it provides a strong foundation in the economic principles that affect risk and uncertainty. This knowledge can be used to develop more accurate and reliable risk assessments.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts analyze business processes and develop solutions to improve efficiency and profitability. They work with a variety of stakeholders, including business leaders, employees, and customers. This course may be helpful for Business Analysts because it provides a strong foundation in the economic principles that affect business. This knowledge can be used to develop better business strategies and solutions.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to develop models and insights that can be used to improve decision-making. They work in a variety of fields, including business, healthcare, and government. This course may be helpful for Data Scientists because it provides a strong foundation in the economic principles that affect data analysis. This knowledge can be used to develop more accurate and reliable models and insights.

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Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts analyze financial data to make investment recommendations. They work with a variety of stakeholders, including individual investors, institutional investors, and corporations. This course may be helpful for Financial Analysts because it provides a strong foundation in the economic principles that affect financial markets. This knowledge can be used to make more informed investment decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst