View source for MOOC: Powering Agriculture – Sustainable Energy for Food


How can we produce more food with less energy, make energy use more efficient, and upscale clean energy technologies in food value chains? Almost 1,400 people participated in the '''MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) '''“Powering Agriculture – Sustainable Energy for Food” to discuss and find answers to those questions. Over eight weeks in spring 2016 they were introduced to the Energy-Agriculture Nexus and learned about the sustainable use of energy throughout all stages of agricultural value chains.<br/>

The MOOC was offered by the global initiative ‘’ and the ''TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences''. Further contributing organizations were the ''Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO''), ''Tetra Tech'', the ''World Bank'', as well as the ''Center for Development Research (ZEF)'' of the University of Bonn.<br/>

Find the MOOC platform with all course material [https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/index.php/welcome/ here].<br/>

<br/>

= About the Course<br/> =

The MOOC introduced participants to challenges of and solutions for sustainable energy use in agricultural value chains. The first half of the curriculum focused on clean energy technologies while the second part highlighted economic and political aspects of projects at the interface of energy and agriculture.<br/>

<br/>

== Background<br/> ==

Around one third of the energy used worldwide goes into the production and [[Agricultural Processing|processing]] of food from field to table. Given&nbsp;the current energy system mix, the agrifood industry sector is however heavily dependent on fossil fuel inputs for production, transport, processing and distribution, and contributes significantly to [[Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agriculture|greenhouse gas emissions]]. With&nbsp;a continuously growing world population the need for food and for energy to produce is increasing. At&nbsp;the same time millions of farmers and processors in developing countries and emerging economies [[Energy Needs in Smallholder Agriculture|lack access]] to clean energy technologies for [[Powering Agriculture: Irrigation|irrigation]], [[Solar Drying|drying]], [[Cooling for Agriculture|cooling]]How can these needs be met sustainably? We have to produce [[Literature Analysis: Energy in Agriculture|more food with less energy]], make energy use [[Energy Efficiency Introduction|more efficient]], and introduce and upscale more [[Renewable Energy Resources in Powering Agriculture|clean energy technologies]].<br/>

The MOOC attented these challenges and dealt with the questions:&nbsp;"How can we support the use of clean energy in developing countries and emerging economies within the agriculture and food sector? How can we contribute to reducing the large quantities of agricultural products going to waste every day, and thereby contributing to food security, both globally and locally?"<br/>

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== Curriculum<br/> ==

{| style="width: 673.39px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
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| style="width: 209.39px;" | 
'''Introduction'''<br/>

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Week 1

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Introduction to the Energy-Agriculture Nexus

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| style="width: 209.39px; height: 15px;" rowspan="3" | 
'''Renewable Energy Technologies and Energy Efficiency in Agricultural Value Chains'''<br/>

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Week 2

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Renewable Energy Resources and Technology Overview

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Week 3

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Bioenergy for Agricultural Value Chains

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Week 4

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Energy efficiency in Agriculture

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'''Economics of the Energy-Agriculture Nexus'''

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Week 5

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Energy and Agriculture on the Macro Level

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Week 6

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Energy and Agriculture on the Micro Level

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Week 7

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Business Models for Energy and Agriculture Projects

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'''Summary'''

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Week 8

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Summary<br/>

|}

<br/>

To receive the course certificate, issued by the PAEGC initiative and ''TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences'', participants had to continuously contribute to the course by earning certain “badges” for weekly quizzes, community activities, assignments and a final quiz. The most work intensive but also most interactive part was the assignments: the participants had to work in teams to elaborate a case study of a solar-powered irrigation system for a location of their choice. The second assignment asked them to develop a business model for a clean energy solution for agricultural use. The expert tutors were impressed by the submissions’ quality and range of approaches. Additional peer review further catalyzed discussions on different clean energy solutions and their applicability in different contexts. This didactical method, in addition to videos, offline reading materials and quizzes, created an active online community.<br/>

<br/>

= Course Material<br/> =

The course material will stay accesible to the public on the [https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/index.php/welcome/ platform]. Each week contained a video, a reader and additional material.<br/>

<br/>

== Introduction to the Energy-Agriculture Nexus<br/> ==

The introduction to the Energy-Agriculture Nexus intended to provide a preface to&nbsp;the given&nbsp;planetary boundaries (especially limited energy and water resources),&nbsp;the Energy-Agriculture Nexus as well as the&nbsp;course platform and community. In addition, an expert interview of&nbsp;Katie Kennedy Freeman provided insights into the World Bank's approaches to support clean energy solutions for agricultural value chains.<br/>

<u>Video lectures:</u><br/>

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu9kWG-uCEc&feature=player_embedded Introduction to the Energy-Agriculture Nexus]&nbsp;by the Partners of "Powering Agriculture - An Energy Grand Challenge for Development"<br/>
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTloXENYseI&feature=player_embedded Introduction to the MOOC]&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 20.4px; font-size: 13.6px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="line-height: 20.4px; font-size: 13.6px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">by Prof. Ramchandra Bhandari, TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences</span></span><br/>
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUiRC1PsNpU&feature=player_embedded Expert Interview with Katie Kennedy Freeman], Global Food and Agriculture Global Practice (GFADR), World Bank<br/>

<u>[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Script_1_Week_1.pdf Reader]</u><br/>

<u>[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/index.php/topic/additional-material-week-1/ Additional material]</u><br/>

<br/>

== Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency in Agricultural Value Chains<br/> ==

'''Week 2: Renewable Energy Resources and Technology Overview'''<br/>The [[Renewable Energy Resources in Powering Agriculture|Renewable Energy Resources and Technology Overview]] provided a guide to understand the basics for working with renewable energy technologies, such as solar energy and its&nbsp;respective applications in agricultural value chains.<br/>

<u>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M-vLXrfdUs Video lecture]</u>&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 20.4px; font-size: 13.6px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="line-height: 20.4px; font-size: 13.6px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">by Prof. Ramchandra Bhandari, TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences</span></span><br/>

<u>[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/PoweringAg_MOOC_READER_WEEK_2.pdf Reader]</u><br/>

<u>[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/index.php/topic/additional-material-week-2/ Additional material]</u><br/>

<br/>'''Week 3: Bioenergy Overview'''<br/>

The bioenergy overview&nbsp;provided a technical overview on [[Bioenergy Resources and Technologies|Bioenergy Resources and Technologies]], biogas fundamentals, and the many uses of biogas in agricultural value chains.&nbsp;This unit&nbsp;introduced the process by which methane is generated, the technologies that can be used to generate methane and factors to consider when choosing a technology, and the different ways biogas can be used as an energy source.<br/>

<u>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PD28KJ0w3U&feature=player_embedded Video lecture]</u> by Miguel Franco, Powering Agriculture Task Support Order (PASTO) & Director at Tetra Tech - Bionenergy and Environment<br/>

<u>[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/PAEGC_MOOC_READER_THREE.pdf Reader]</u><br/>

<u>[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/index.php/topic/additional-material-week-3/ Additional material]</u><br/>

<br/>'''Week 4: Energy Efficiency in the Energy-Agriculture Nexus'''<br/>

The unit&nbsp;introduced the concepts of [[Energy_Efficiency_Introduction|Energy Efficiency]] and sustainable energy use.&nbsp;Participants&nbsp;gained an understanding of why [[Energy_Auditing|Energy Audits]] are an important tool for energy efficiency and how life cycle assessments can support decision making for more sustainable energy use in agricultural value chains. In addition,&nbsp;a case study on the energy needs in Kenyan tea factories has been included.<br/>

<u>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU2lB9RobUo&feature=player_embedded Video lecture]</u>&nbsp;by Prof. Ramchandra Bhandari, TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences<br/>

<u>[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/PAEGC_MOOC_READER_4.pdf Reader]</u><br/>

<u>[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/index.php/topic/additional-material-week-4/ Additional material]</u><br/>

<br/>

== Economics of the Energy-Agriculture Nexus<br/> ==

'''Week 5: Policies and Regulations for the Energy-Agriculture Nexus'''<br/>

The&nbsp;following&nbsp;session&nbsp;introduced the economic side of the nexus by&nbsp;providing knowledge on [[Policies_and_Regulations_for_the_Energy-Agriculture_Nexus|Policies and Regulations for the Energy-Agriculture Nexus]].&nbsp;Further,&nbsp;severeal&nbsp;[[Comparison_of_Various_Policy_Tools_for_Promoting_Renewable_Energies|Policy Tools for Promoting Renewable Energies]] have been presented and compared.<br/>

<u>[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/index.php/topic/videos-week-5/ Video lecture]</u>&nbsp;by&nbsp;Alisher Mirzabaev, Senior Researcher at the Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn<br/>

<u>[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PAEGC_MOOC_READER_5.pdf Reader]</u><br/>

<u>[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/index.php/topic/additional-material-week-5/ Additional material]</u><br/>

<br/>'''Week 6: Energy and Agriculture on the Micro Level'''<br/>

This unit&nbsp;continued the economic session adressing the energy and agriculture on the micro level.&nbsp;Participants learned how to&nbsp;perform a micro assessment of investments in renewable energy such as a&nbsp;[[Techno-Economic_Analysis_in_Agricultural_Value_Chains|Techno-Economic Analysis in Agricultural Value Chains]]&nbsp;and [[Techno-Economic_Analysis_in_Agricultural_Value_Chains|Cost-benefit Analysis]].<br/>

<u>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz9JSg0VY-0&feature=player_embedded Video lecture]</u> by Stefania Bracco, expert in Energy-Smart Agri-Food Chains working for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)<br/>

<u>[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/READER_WEEK_6.pdf Reader]<br/></u>

<u>[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/index.php/topic/additional-material-week-6/ Additional material]<br/></u>

<br/>'''Week 7: Business Models for Projects in the Energy-Agriculture Nexus'''<br/>

This unit provided the participants with know-how on [[Business_Models_for_the_Energy-Agriculture_Nexus|Business Models]] and common methods for business decision making – with a focus on hands-on aspects, including examples of financial analysis of grid connected and off-grid clean energy projects in the agricultural sector. In addition, a case study elaborated by the FAO analysed solar pumps for sustainable irrigation in Bangladesh.<br/>

<u>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILLr-uWE4ZE&feature=player_embedded Video lecture]</u>&nbsp;by Prof. Ramchandra Bhandari, TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences<br/>

<u>[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/PAEGC_MOOC_READER_7.pdf Reader]</u>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<u>[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/PAEGC_MOOC_Case_Study_Week_7.pdf case study by FAO]</u><br/>

<u>[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/index.php/topic/additional-material-week-7/ Additional material]</u><br/>

<br/>

== Summary<br/> ==

This last&nbsp;unit of the MOOC&nbsp;provided no new content but was [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxdjvSmEd6w&feature=player_embedded Summary of the MOOC]<span style="line-height: 20.4px; font-size: 13.6px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="line-height: 20.4px; font-size: 13.6px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.</span></span><br/>

<u>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxdjvSmEd6w Video lecture]</u> by Prof. Ramchandra Bhandari, TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences<br/>

<u>[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/PAEGC_MOOC_COMPILED_READER.pdf Compiled course reader]</u><br/>

<u>[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/index.php/topic/additional-material-week-8/ Additional material]</u><br/>

<br/>

= About the Organiser<br/> =

'''[http://poweringag.org/ Powering Agriculture – An Energy Grand Challenge (PAEGC)] '''seeks to identify and support new and sustainable approaches to accelerate the development and deployment of clean energy solutions for increasing agriculture productivity and/or value in developing countries. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Duke Energy, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) have combined resources to fund Powering Agriculture. The ''Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) ''supports the initiative on behalf of BMZ.<br/>

'''''[https://www.th-koeln.de/en/homepage_26.php TH Köln] – University of Applied Sciences'''''sees itself as University of Technology, Arts, and Sciences. With its disciplinary and cultural diversity and openness, TH Köln’s activities are aimed on cultural and technological breakthroughs of high societal relevance; TH Köln contributes substantially to resolving social challenges.<br/>

<br/>

= Further Information<br/> =

*'''[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/index.php/welcome/ MOOC Platform]'''<br/>
*PAEGC Study: "[[Opportunities for Agri-Food Chains to become Energy-Smart|Opportunities for Agri-Food Chains to become Energy-Smart]]"<br/>
*Overview of PAEGC: [[Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development|Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development]]<br/>
*[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/PAEGC_MOOC_COMPILED_READER.pdf Reader of the MOOC "Powering Agriculture - Sustainable Energy for Food"]<br/>
*GIZ Publication:&nbsp;[[Manual and Tools for Promoting SPIS – Stocktaking and Analysis Report|Manual and Tools for Promoting Solar Powered Irrigation Systems]]<br/>

[[Category:University]]
[[Category:Best_Practices]]
[[Category:Energy_Use]]
[[Category:Water-Energy-Food_Nexus]]
[[Category:Case_Study]]
[[Category:User_Training]]
[[Category:Capacity_Development]]
[[Category:Powering_Agriculture]]