Horticultural Production – Bachelor of Horticultural and Plant Systems

An introduction to the organisation, structure and governance of New Zealand agribusiness in a global context. Examines the international and domestic macro environment and its impact on New Zealand agribusiness. Explores New Zealand farm systems within an agribusiness context.

An interdisciplinary study of agricultural and Horticultural systems to describe and analyse the relationships between system components. Analysis of the inter-relationships within these systems, including the sub-systems for primary production, processing, marketing and policy, and the relationships of these systems within their environment.

Prerequisites: 119281 Restrictions: 284201

Application of decision tools for farm systems analysis at the tactical level. Analytical frameworks to assist decision-making in finance, human resources, production and marketing.

Prerequisites: 119180 or 117155

An integrative course designed to emphasise the importance of the broad knowledge base gained in the degree and the value of multidisciplinary teams in addressing the issues and problems of importance to the industries served by the degree. Emphasis will be placed on the application of knowledge to problem-solving, group learning and problem-solving strategies and communication in the context of applied science. Real-world problems will be used.

Prerequisites: 119250

This course examines developmental and physiological responses that enable plants to cope with a changing environment and that occur daily, seasonally and over longer timescales; e.g. global climate change. Major topics include plant responses to light, carbon dioxide levels, mineral nutrition and abiotic and biotic stresses such as drought and pests. Emphasis is on mechanisms by which changes in the environment are perceived, signalling processes that are induced, and cellular and developmental changes that help the plant cope with the changed environment.

Prerequisites: 120101

Traditional and modern methods by which plants can be modified to provide new genetic material for use in agriculture, horticulture, forestry and industry. This course links basic and applied science and focuses on how natural and induced genetic variation can be harnessed for human use. Emphasis is on the dramatic progress being made in plant breeding, QTL analysis, marker-assisted selection, tissue culture and recombinant DNA technology. The course includes discussion of environmental, ethical and regulatory issues.

Prerequisites: 203210 or 284201 Restrictions: 120304

This course delves into urgent issues like climate change and other major environmental challenges that affect natural and built ecosystems today and into the future. This course highlights the interconnected dynamics of social, technological, political, economic, and environmental change. Focusing on critical areas such as greenhouse gas emissions, the sustainability of production and consumption systems, land degradation, loss of biodiversity, soil contamination, water scarcity and pollution it helps students understand the causes and consequences of these problems.

Restrictions: 121210 or 121311

Knowledge of remote and proximal sensing, and precision livestock techniques to provide information to mitigate environmental impacts under intensive farm production systems. Consideration of issues of resource use, optimization of farm production and environmental performance of primary industries.

This course offers students modules covering different aspects of agronomy from which they need to select two. Modules: Weed control, farm forestry, seed technology and crop production. Each module runs for 6 weeks and includes laboratory or field work.

Prerequisites: 119120

The role of crop architecture and the modification of the aerial environment for optimising yield and pre-harvest product quality, as well as the factors affecting quality and shelf life of horticultural commodities through the handling chain.

Prerequisites: 120217 or 284201

The importance of diseases, pests and weeds to horticultural, agricultural and forestry production, trade, gardening and conservation is outlined. The course introduces the biology of these organisms and gives an understanding of their management and control. An introduction to strategies available for chemical, non-chemical and integrated control methods is included together with examples. A course of practical work.

Prerequisites: 119120 or 120101 or 283101 or 284101 Restrictions: 171284

The study of the flow of food and agricultural products from the farm to the final consumer. Emphasis on successful value chain management applied to food and agribusiness. The course utilizes field trips to study local value chains.

Prerequisites: 119180

Legal responsibilities and compliance associated with primary production; obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and examples of legislation including resource management, hazardous substances and new organisms, animal welfare, health and safety, food safety, biosecurity and employment. Central and local government, and industry systems. Implications for owners, managers and employees in the rural sector.

Engineering principles underpinning the systems used in the growing, harvest and post-harvest treatment of agricultural and horticultural products. Emphasis is placed on deriving the system performance specification following consideration of capacity, product quality and safety, and ecological requirements.

This course examines the influence of soil factors on plant nutrient cycling in agricultural production systems. The composition, properties and uses of fertilisers to improve soil fertility and the associated environmental issues arising from soil water relationships and interactions with plant nutrients. Methods for measuring nutrient levels in soils will also be covered.

Prerequisites: 189151

This course will explore common Te Ao Māori values associated with Māori environmental management and provide practical experiences with assessing and monitoring our unique environments from a Māori and Iwi perspective. Students will be provided with opportunities to understand the holistic nature of Māori cultural concepts and engage with cutting edge Pūtaiao experiences.

An introduction to human resources management (HRM) theories and practices in national and international contexts.

Overview of agricultural and horticultural properties detailing the structures, electricity supply, water systems, site layout and wastewater management.

Restrictions: 138382, 218274, 138331

A practical approach to the management of strategy, finance and tactics in primary industry. An exploration, through in-field case studies and business analysis, of planning under uncertainty.

Prerequisites: 119281

The evolution of plant lineages has many potential outcomes, ranging from extinction to diversification and speciation. This course explores the processes that influence how lineages evolve and how we investigate and interpret patterns of diversity to better understand plant evolution and speciation. Lectures consist of critical discussion of topics including species concepts, local adaptation and diversification, morphological and molecular evolution, mating systems, and the roles of hybridization and polyploidy in plant evolution and speciation.

Prerequisites: One of (120201, 120218, 120219, 196205, 196207 or 203210)

Insect diversity, anatomy, physiology, behaviour, plant-insect relationships, biosecurity, and integrated pest management in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. Insect identification and curation skills are taught in the laboratories. An insect collection is required.

Prerequisites: 196201 or 199206 or 199211 or 283201 or 285201