Technical Standards and Best Practice in Agriculture

1. Introduction: normative and legislative sources; the HLS standards; declarations of conformity; 1,5 ECTS (R. Guidetti)
The system vision of the agricultural sector: the different components, the different regulations.
The regulatory world of support to the agricultural world: national, European, international sources.
Technical standardization: objectives, principles, mandatory value.
HLS standards: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 27001. General concepts and application to the agricultural sector. Risks and opportunities. Reference principles.
Standards for the agri-food sector: Global GAP (Good Agricultural Practices); BRC global standard for Food Safety; IFS (International Food Standard)

2. The field of irrigation - 1 CFU (C. Gandolfi)
General overview of European and national legislation on the protection and management of water resources, with particular attention to the irrigation use of water.
The Reclamation and Irrigation Consortia, reference legislation and technical-administrative tools that guarantee their functioning.
Recent legislation on the reuse of urban wastewater treated for irrigation purposes in agriculture and expected effects.
Authorization procedures for the issue of small concessions relating to the withdrawal of water from surface and underground sources.
The topics will also be dealt with through seminars and presentation of case studies.

3. The field of agricultural mechanics - 1 CFU, (D. Pessina)
Main critical issues in the use of agricultural machinery in relation to the health of operators and the protection of the environment: bodies and organizations involved, framework standards and technical standards (EU and national).
Illustration of the principles and related regulatory applications on the subject of:
- ROPS (Roll-over Protective Structures), roll-over protective structures and safety belts;
- cardan shaft guards;
- sprayers for herbaceous and tree crops.

4. The field of rural buildings - 1.5 CFU, (E. Riva)
Regulations to consider when planning, building and managing a rural building:
- Community, National, Regional, Provincial, supra-municipal and municipal parks legislation relating to the construction of agricultural buildings
- International, European and national standards relating to rural buildings
- Administrative, landscape, fine arts, local, location, proximity to watercourses constraints, with reference to the main urban planning instruments: PTR, PTCP, PGT, standard hygiene regulations
- Main authorization procedures for compliance with environmental regulations for rural buildings (VIA, AIA, Emissions, use of effluents).
The topics will be treated highlighting the role of the agronomist with some hints at the complementary professional figures (geologist, pedologist, structural engineer, etc.)
Analysis of the authorization process of some case studies: dairy cattle farms, pig farms, buildings for product conservation, greenhouses, company and consortium plants for agro-energy production.
The topics will also be dealt with in specific seminars.

5. The economic field - 1 CFU, (C. Mazzocchi)
The supply side:
- The CAP 23-27 between confirmations and important innovations: challenges and opportunities for agricultural entrepreneurs.
CAP Strategic Plan (PSP); Direct payments, mandatory and optional; the new rural development. In-depth analysis of risk management in the company (Agricat, insurance policies, mutual funds).
The demand side:
- Typical geographical indications and Italian and European quality marks of agri-food products: consumer interest and embarrassment.
Information asymmetry and the role of labelling. Quality regimes of agri-food products in the world and differences with Europe. Brands and certifications of origin and quality. Case studies.
The topics will be covered using case study presentations and workshop approaches in order to better learn the proposed topics.