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HORT40110

Academic Year 2025/2026

Food Production: Vegetable Crops (HORT40110)

Subject:
Horticulture
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Agriculture & Food Science
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Aisling Reilly
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
Blended
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module will focus on the sustainable planning of commercial field-scale vegetable crop production. An overview of the potato and vegetable industries will be given. The module will emphasise soil requirements, cultural techniques, growing programmes, harvesting methodologies and quality assurance systems for selected tuber (in particular potato production), root, bulb and brassica crops. Industry Codes of Practice and Quality programmes (including national and international quality standards, such as GLOBALGAP, certification and accreditation systems to ISO 17065) will be examined and reviewed. The influence of global fresh produce supply systems, retailing strategies and food safety/quality systems will be discussed. Developments in related value-added products will be explored.
Students will be taken on two industry site visits and will be required to produce reports detailing their observations and a critical analysis of the business.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to;
1. Describe the principles of production, supply, and retailing of fresh and value-added potato and vegetable products.
2. Critically review and evaluate data from scientific and industry sources on key topics, such as primary crop requirements, food safety, quality assurance, environmental impact, sustainability, market demands/consumer trends, demographic changes and globalisation impacting the production and supply of potato and vegetable produce.
3. Describe the principles of sustainable production of potato and major field vegetable crops.
4. Create cropping plans and evaluate quality attributes for commercial potato and field vegetable crops.
5. Discuss and evaluate the requirements for a successful business within this sector.
6. Assess the application and use of precision mechanisation within this sector.

Indicative Module Content:

This module will focus on the sustainable planning of commercial potato and field scale vegetable crop production. An overview of the potato and vegetable industries will be given. The module will emphasise soil requirements, cultural techniques, harvesting methodologies and quality assurance systems for selected tuber (in particular potato production), root, bulb and brassica crops. Industry Codes of Practice and Quality programmes (including national and international quality standards, such as GLOBALGAP, certification and accreditation systems to ISO 17065) will be examined and reviewed. The influence of global fresh produce supply systems, retailing strategies and food safety/quality systems will be discussed. Developments in related value-added products will be explored.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Conversation Class

2
Field Trip/External Visits

12
Specified Learning Activities

23
Autonomous Student Learning

64
Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The teaching and learning approaches used in this module include: active/task-based learning; lectures; critical writing; reflective learning; industry site visits; case-based learning.

The use of AI tools is NOT permitted for any submitted assessments.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Level 1 or Level 2 Biology or Chemistry modules


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
Food Production: Vegetables (HORT30240)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): End of trimester exam. Closed book. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Graded No
60
 No
Portfolio: Students will submit a portfolio that includes two (2) industry visit reports. Each report should be a minimum of 500 words and submitted by week 11. Week 11 Graded No
20
 No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: Midterm 1: short answers-style exam Week 4 Graded No
10
 No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: Midterm 2: short answers-style exam Week 8 Graded No
10
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback provided after submission of each industry site visit report and the completion of each preliminary examination and following presentations.

Name Role
Dr Aisling Reilly Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Noeleen Smyth Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Tony Twamley Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Wed 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 6, 9 Wed 14:00 - 18:50
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