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Academic year 2022/2023
Master's Degree (MSc) on FIRM AND QUALITY FOR THE AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SYSTEM
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF AGRI-ZOOTECHNICAL BUSINESS

Coordinator Prof. Pietro Columba
Class of Master's Degree (MSc) on Agricultural sciences (LM-69)
2 years
PALERMO
Free access
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Science
Course Code
2150

Course info
The 2nd cycle Degree Course in "Firm and Quality for the agricultural and food system" is an advanced study opportunity for who wish to consolidate and expand their professional and scientific competences in the field of agricultural entrepreneurship and in the management and enhancement of quality products and processes. The course has been innovated by adopting a further diversification of the educational offer, stemming by the need to train professionals capable of intervening in the enhancement of the agro-food quality systems as well as of the products of crop and animal breeding. The course is also intended as a driving force of sustainable development of the territory, based on specific and valuable characters. The educational content related to livestock fill a need for training in the important context of the sector of the management of quality animal products, with a focus on issues relating to food safety, to animal welfare, to the management of pastures and forage crops, and to the management of livestock waste. The course primarily aims at educating professionals able to start business and supply chain initiatives related to the upgrading of products with specific quality characters, such as typical, biological, historical characters, etc .; the current international economic system and the development of food culture are driving more and more the business activity towards the ability to relate with the socio-economic system through forms of integration and coordination of the productive and organizational activities, bringing out the products specificities and raising the level of quality and food safety. The educational activities include class specific subjects aimed at the acquisition of skills in the fields of post-harvest processing of agricultural products, of systems and processes for the agro-industrial transformation, of the defence and prevention of commodities against pathogens and possible contamination; where possible, courses are provided with interdisciplinary traits, aiming at the integration of different skills. Other contents of class specific subjects are: the economic aspects of the company, of market, of the food and agriculture policy at the international level as well as the specific aspects of the quality and certification economics. A better understanding of matters of logistics, packaging technology (packaging and labelling) and of consumer behaviour and perception of quality is pursued through complementary disciplines specifically included in the educational path. The course includes the following additional educational activities: - Elective activities: The elective credits may be acquired, in accordance with article 10, paragraph 5, letter a) of the Ministerial Decree 270/04, and with the Course and University regulation, among all the subjects provided in the University of Palermo, if consistent with the educational objectives of the course. - Internships: to be carried out at companies or institutions; - Activities related to the final examination: The final examination consists of the preparation of an original paper to be discussed publicly with a faculty Board, as required by the academic regulations . The educational activities will be carried out through lectures, laboratory and field exercises and mid-term tests. The expected time for obtaining the degree is two academic years. To achieve the degree, students must have acquired 120 university credits (CFU), including those related to the knowledge of The English language, subject to the special rules for the protection of linguistic minorities. The educational programme consists of 11 required courses and one elective course, plus the practical-application internship at accredited facilities and the final examination on topics related to the Degree Course. At the end of the course students are awarded the title of “Dottore Magistrale” and, upon passing the national professional qualification examination, they may register in Section A (Senior Agronomist) of the professional register of the “Ordine dei Dottori Agronomi e Forestali”.* *Italian professional Board
Profile: POST HARVEST PRODUCTION EXPERT IN FOOD COMPANIES Functions: The post-harvest production expert in agri-food businesses is a profile created to manage the phases of the supply chain related to the production. Skills: Organization of production processes of agricultural and food companies. Hygienic and safety Management of food and agricultural products. Management and evaluation of the quality and certification processes of agricultural food production. Evaluation of technical and engineering requirements of food companies. Quality management and enhancement in post-harvest product phases. Research. Planning in relation to sector policies. Professional opportunities: Individual or associated agro-food companies, Producers organizations, processing companies, professional services, research and consultancy for national and international privates and public agencies and institutions (FAO, European Commission, Agriculture Special Committee), research and advice to universities, research centres, foundations. 2nd cycle graduates in “Firm and quality for the agricultural and food system”, after passing the national exam qualifying for the profession of agronomist, may enrol in the Register of Agronomists and Forestry experts, section A. Profile: EXPERT OF DISTRIBUTION AND MARKET IN AGRO-FOOD COMPANIES Functions: The expert in the distribution and market in the agro-food business is a profile created to manage the relationships with the market and consumers within the supply chain. Skills: Management of product distribution and of the relations with the relevant economic actors in the supply chain (sales manager, export manager). Planning of marketing strategies (marketing manager) also with reference to the enhancement of quality productions. Marketing plans design. Company management and planning in relation to sector policies. Professional opportunities: Individual or associated agro-food companies, Producers organizations, processing companies, large retail chains, professional services, research and consultancy for European, national and international privates and public agencies and institutions(FAO, European Commission, Agriculture Special Committee), research and advice to universities, research centres, foundations. 2nd cycle graduates in “Firm and quality for the agricultural and food system”, after passing the national exam qualifying for the profession of agronomist, may enrol in the Register of Agronomists and Forestry experts, section A. Profile: LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION EXPERT Functions: The expert in the area of quality livestock production is a profile created to manage the phases of the supply chain, namely in the field of livestock production. Skills: Organization of production processes of agricultural and food companies. Quality management of agri-food products of animal origin. Management and evaluation of quality processes. Evaluation of technical and engineering requirements of the food companies. Research. Planning in relation to sector policies. Professional opportunities: Individual or associated agro-food companies, producers organizations, processing companies, professional services, research and consulting for individuals and organizations and national and international public institutions (FAO, the European Commission, Agriculture Special Committee), research and advice to universities, think tanks, foundations. 2nd cycle graduates in “Firm and quality for the agricultural and food system”, after passing the national exam qualifying for the profession of agronomist, may enrol in the Register of Agronomists and Forestry experts, section A.
The final examination consists of the preparation of an original thesis elaborated by the student under the guidance of a supervisor. The supervisor who might ask for the cooperation of another professor, researcher, or external expert, acting as a co-supervisor, for the educational activity related to the preparation of the thesis. The degree thesis must have an experimental character, and it must consist in the execution of the experimental part, in the elaboration and discussion of the results as well as in the drafting of the paper. For particular subjects of the Degree Course, the thesis can also include a multimedia product. The paper can be written in a language of the European Union, other than Italian. The degree thesis, or part of it, can also be carried out at other Italian or foreign public and/or private institutions and companies accredited by the University of Palermo and, given the number of credits assigned, be connected to the internship or internship work in companies.

course outline
Teachings first year
credits Term Val. Area Scientific sector
18593 - ANIMAL PRODUCTS AND ANIMAL WELLBEING Details BONANNO (PO) 9.0 1 V B AGR/19
19692 - TRANSFORMATION PROCESSES OF AGRI-FOOD PRODUCTS Details CINQUANTA (PO) 6.0 1 V B AGR/15
20936 - ZOOTECHNICAL BIODIVERSITY AND ANIMAL GENETIC IMPROVEMENT Details PORTOLANO (PO) 6.0 1 V B AGR/17
22738 - ZOOTECHNICAL MACHINES AND PLANTS Details GRECO (RD) 6.0 1 V B AGR/09
22739 - SEWAGE MANAGEMENT IN AGRO-ZOOTECHNICAL PLANTS Details IOVINO (PO) 6.0 1 V B AGR/08
18751 - ANIMAL NUTRITION AND ALIMENTATION Details TODARO (PA) 6.0 2 V C AGR/18
20934 - ECONOMICS AND MARKETING OF SUSTAINABLE AGRIFOOD COMPANIES - INTEGRATED COURSE Details BORSELLINO (PA) 12.0 2 V
MARKET ECONOMICS AND MARKETING OF AGRI-ZOOTECHNICAL PRODUCTS MIGLIORE (PA) 6.0 B AGR/01
ECONOMICS AND STRATEGY FOR BUSINESS BORSELLINO (PA) 6.0 B AGR/01
20935 - ORGANIC GRASSLANDS AND ALPICULTURE Details DI MICELI (PA) 9.0 2 V B AGR/02
Free subjects (suggested) 8.0 D
Teachings second year
credits Term Val. Area Scientific sector
14184 - INTERNSHIP 12.0 1 G F
18591 - MICROBIOLOGY OF ANIMAL PRODICTS Details ALFONZO (RD) 6.0 1 V B AGR/16
19940 - EU AGRICULTURAL POLICY Details ALTAMORE (PA) 6.0 1 V C AGR/01
04677 - ENGLISH LANGUAGE Details 6.0 2 G F
05917 - FINAL EXAMINATION 16.0 2 G E
19689 - ZOOTECHNICAL ENTOMOLOGY AND INSECT BREEDING Details LO VERDE (PA) 6.0 2 V B AGR/11
Elective activities
Free subjects (suggested) credits Term Val. Area Scientific sector
14025 - LOGISTICS OF AGRO-FOOD PRODUCTS Details AIELLO (PA) 6.0 1 V D ING-IND/17
22737 - FOOD PRODUCTS PACKAGING Details BOTTA (PA) 6.0 1 V D ING-IND/22
17063 - TROPICAL AND SUB-TROPICAL FRUIT FARMING Details FARINA (PO) 3.0 2 V D AGR/03
21874 - ENVIRONMENTAL AND FOOD CONTAMINANTS Details SAIANO (RU) 3.0 2 V D AGR/13
Explaination
Term Term/Semester
Val. Valutation: V = mark in 30/30, G = note
(*) Teaching attended in english
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