Difference between revisions of "MOOC: Powering Agriculture – Sustainable Energy for Food"

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= Course at a Glance =
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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 global initiative “[[Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development|Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development (PAEGC)]]” in cooperation with TH Köln – University of Applied Science is offering a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on “[[Event - MOOC 2016 on "Powering Agriculture - Sustainable Energy for Food"|Powering Agriculture – Sustainable Energy for Food]]”. Further participating organizations are the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Tetra Tech, the World Bank, as well as the Center for Development Research (ZEF).
+
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/>
  
The 8-week course, which will run from Feb. 1 to Mar. 27 2016*, will introduce participants to the Energy-Agriculture Nexus and approaches for sustainably providing energy throughout all stages of agricultural value chains. Challenges but also solutions will be analyzed, concrete technologies will be examined focusing on their utility to promote access to clean energy.&nbsp; (*Participants may join the sessions even after 1 February)
+
Find the MOOC platform with all course material [https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/index.php/welcome/ here].<br/>
  
[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/index.php/welcome/ Register here].
+
= About the Course<br/> =
  
= Background =
+
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/>
  
Around one third of the energy used worldwide goes into the production and 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. With&nbsp;a continuously growing world population the need for food and for energy to produce it is increasing. At&nbsp;the same time millions of farmers and processors in developing countries and emerging economies lack access to clean energy technologies for irrigation, drying, cooling, storage and other&nbsp;processes.
+
== Background<br/> ==
  
&nbsp;
+
Around one third of the energy used worldwide goes into the production and [[Agricultural Processing|processing]] of food from field to table. Given 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 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/>
  
<u>How can these needs be met sustainably?</u>
+
The MOOC attended 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/>
  
We have to produce more food with less energy, make energy use more efficient, and introduce and upscale more clean energy&nbsp;technologies.
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== Curriculum<br/> ==
  
&nbsp;
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{| style="width: 673.39px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
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|-
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| style="width: 209.39px;" |
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'''Introduction'''<br/>
  
= About the course =
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| style="width: 92.6px;" |
 +
Week 1
  
The MOOC is a web-based intensive course with flexible participation, online-video as well as offline reading material, and an online forum. It is offered on the&nbsp;Global Campus 21®&nbsp;platform of&nbsp;GIZ&nbsp;(Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH), with all learning materials and documents available for offline work. The aim is to build a vibrant learning community focused on co-creating solutions.
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| style="width: 362.6px;" |
 +
Introduction to the Energy-Agriculture Nexus
  
In this course, we will give an introduction to the&nbsp;Agriculture and Energy Nexus&nbsp;and introduce approaches for sustainably providing energy throughout all stages of agricultural value chains – focusing on a developing and emerging country context.
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|-
 +
| style="width: 209.39px; height: 15px;" rowspan="3" |
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'''Renewable Energy Technologies and Energy Efficiency in Agricultural Value Chains'''<br/>
  
Our central concerns are: 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?’
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| style="width: 92.6px; height: 15px;" |
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Week 2
  
We will look at different clean energy technologies such as biogas- and solar powered- technologies and examine how those can promote access to clean energy. Together we will explore possible applications of these technologies in agricultural value chains by jointly analysing case studies from all over the globe.
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| style="width: 362.6px; height: 15px;" |
 +
Renewable Energy Resources and Technology Overview
  
We will learn that – while there is general consent on the importance of ‘clean energy’ and food security – approaches to tackle existing challenges vary enormously. Economic and political factors play a big role within the Agriculture and Energy Nexus,&nbsp;and may either push or restrain progress towards a more sustainable energy use. Together we will master the means to overcome some of the obstacles.
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|-
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| style="width: 92.6px;" |
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Week 3
  
&nbsp;
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| style="width: 362.6px;" |
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Bioenergy for Agricultural Value Chains
  
= Workload =
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|-
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| style="width: 92.6px;" |
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Week 4
  
The total course duration is 8 weeks (February 1st to March 27th 2016,) with a minimum of 3-4 hours a week for reading course materials and collaborative online work.
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| style="width: 362.6px;" |
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Energy efficiency in Agriculture
  
&nbsp;
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|-
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| style="width: 209.39px;" rowspan="3" |
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'''Economics of the Energy-Agriculture Nexus'''
  
= Curriculum =
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| style="width: 92.6px;" |
 +
Week 5
  
=== Learning Goals ===
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| style="width: 362.6px;" |
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Energy and Agriculture on the Macro Level
  
At the end of the course, you will have gained a risen awareness of the Energy-Agriculture Nexus and you will have achieved a more complex and critical understanding of its challenges. You are able to identify the potential of various renewable energy technologies in agricultural value chains and you can put the energy food nexus in economic and political context. Further you will have learnt to implement your very own energy solution.
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|-
 +
| style="width: 92.6px;" |
 +
Week 6
  
The course structure is as follows:
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| style="width: 362.6px;" |
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Energy and Agriculture on the Micro Level
  
=== Introduction to the Energy-Agriculture Nexus ===
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|-
 +
| style="width: 92.6px;" |
 +
Week 7
  
Week 1
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| style="width: 362.6px;" |
 +
Business Models for Energy and Agriculture Projects
 +
 
 +
|-
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| style="width: 209.39px; height: 21px;" |
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'''Summary'''
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 92.6px; height: 21px;" |
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Week 8
 +
 
 +
| style="width: 362.6px; height: 21px;" |
 +
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/>
 +
 
 +
= 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]. <br/>
 +
 
 +
All the material and videos are still online available without registration:<br/>
  
*Introduction to the&nbsp;Energy-Agriculture Nexus
+
*[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/index.php/course-reader/ Course Reader]<br/>
*Energy Input in Agricultural Value Chains
+
*[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/index.php/references/ References]
 +
*[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/index.php/additional-materials/ Additional Material]
 +
*[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/index.php/video-lectures/ Video Lectures]
 +
*[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/index.php/case-studies/ Case Studies]
 +
*[https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/var/app/wp385P/2624/index.php/assignments/ Assignments]<br/>
  
&nbsp;
+
== Introduction to the Energy-Agriculture Nexus<br/> ==
 +
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
 +
The first week of the MOOC&nbsp;provided an introduction to&nbsp;the Energy-Agriculture Nexus, spotlighted climate change aspects and presented&nbsp;an overview of&nbsp;energy inputs in agricultural value chains. These topics were covered in the reading material and the videos.&nbsp;A highlight of this week was the&nbsp;expert interview&nbsp;with&nbsp;Katie Kennedy Freeman providing insights into the World Bank's approaches to support clean energy solutions for agricultural value chains.<br/>
  
=== Renewable Energy Technologies and Energy Efficiency in Agricultural Value Chains ===
+
<u>Videos:</u><br/>
  
Week 2
+
*[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/>
 +
</div>
 +
== Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency in Agricultural Value Chains<br/> ==
 +
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
 +
'''Week 2: Renewable Energy Resources and Technology Overview'''<br/>The second week dealt with "[[Renewable Energy Resources in Powering Agriculture|Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies]]".&nbsp;The reading introduced&nbsp;the technical part of the MOOC "Powering Agriculture - Sustainable Energy for Food". The chapter provided an overview on renewable energy (RE) resources and a selection of technologies to harness these resources.&nbsp;A particular focus&nbsp;was on solar power – one of the most versatile technologies; including a design guide for solar powered irrigation systems. Nonetheless, the other technologies&nbsp;were briefly explored.<br/>
  
*Renewable Energy Resources and Technology Overview
+
<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/>
*Solar Energy – Photovoltaics
 
*Solar Energy – Thermal Systems
 
*Application of Solar Energy&nbsp;Technologies in Agricultural Value Chains
 
*Case Studies
 
  
Week 3
+
<br/>'''Week 3: Bioenergy Overview'''<br/>
  
*Use of Bioenergy in Agricultural Value Chains
+
The bioenergy&nbsp;session&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/>
*Bioenergy Resources and Technologies
 
*Application in Agricultural Value Chains
 
*Case Studies
 
  
Week 4
+
<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/>
  
*Energy Efficiency in the Energy-Agriculture Nexus
+
<br/>'''Week 4: Energy Efficiency in the Energy-Agriculture Nexus'''<br/>
*Energy Audits
 
*Life-cycle Assessment
 
*Case Studies
 
  
&nbsp;
+
The fourth 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. A highlight of this week is&nbsp;a case study about energy&nbsp;efficiency in Kenyan tea factories.<br/>
  
=== The Economics of the Energy–Food Nexus ===
+
<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/>
 +
</div>
 +
== Economics of the Energy-Agriculture Nexus<br/> ==
 +
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
 +
'''Week 5: Policies and Regulations for the Energy-Agriculture Nexus'''<br/>
  
Week 5
+
The&nbsp;unit&nbsp;introduced the macro-economic aspects of the Energy-Agriculture Nexus by&nbsp;providing knowledge on [[Policies and Regulations for the Energy-Agriculture Nexus|Policies and Regulations for the Energy-Agriculture Nexus]].&nbsp;Several&nbsp;[[Comparison of various Policy Tools for Promoting Renewable Energies|Policy Tools for Promoting Renewable Energies]] have been presented and compared. For instance,&nbsp;the concept of circular economy is introduced as a mode of economic organization to minimize<br/>resource use and promote adoption of cleaner technologies in agricultural value chains. This chapter also touches upon regulation of energy use and transitions to cleaner, renewable energies, as well as upon socio-economic impacts of energy<br/>production and use. The chapter closes with a unit on markets and financing needs and opportunities for projects at the interface of energy and agriculture.<br/>
  
*Macro-level: Policies and Regulations for the Energy-Agriculture Nexus
+
<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/>
*Case Studies
 
  
Week 6
+
<br/>'''Week 6: Energy and Agriculture on the Micro Level'''<br/>
  
*Micro-level: Investment Planning
+
The&nbsp;module&nbsp;continued the economics sessions addressing the Energy-Agriculture Nexus on the micro level.&nbsp;Participants learned about the differences in energy inputs and the potential to incorporate renewables for&nbsp;agri-food businesses of different scales (e.g.&nbsp;subsistence level-farm vs. large corporate businesses). They also learned about investment planning and tools for [[Techno-Economic Analysis in Agricultural Value Chains|techno-economic analysis]]&nbsp;of energy projects in agricultural value chains, and about [[Techno-Economic Analysis in Agricultural Value Chains|Cost-benefit Analysis]].<br/>
*Feasibility Analysis
 
*Cost-benefit Analysis
 
*Case Studies
 
  
Week 7
+
<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, ''Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)''<br/>
  
*Business Models for the Energy-Agriculture Nexus
+
<br/>'''Week 7: Business Models for Projects in the Energy-Agriculture Nexus'''<br/>
*Grid-connected Projects
 
*Off-grid Projects
 
*Value chain integrated generation and supply
 
  
&nbsp;
+
The 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/>
  
=== Implementation of the Energy-Food Nexus ===
+
<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/>
 +
</div>
 +
== Summary<br/> ==
 +
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
 +
This last&nbsp;unit in week 8 of the MOOC&nbsp;looked&nbsp;back&nbsp;at the 7 previous&nbsp;weeks: Participants have learned about the Energy-Agriculture Nexus in general, about different renewable energy resources and technologies, as well as energy efficiency, in the context of agricultural value chains, and also about macro- and microeconomic aspects of the Nexus.<br/>
  
Week 8
+
<u>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxdjvSmEd6w Video lecture]</u> by Prof. Ramchandra Bhandari, ''TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences''<br/>
 +
</div>
 +
= MOOC evaluation<br/> =
  
*Summary
+
'''Quick facts:'''<br/>
  
&nbsp;
+
*1354&nbsp;participants mostly from Sub-Saharan Africa (40%), but also from Europe (26%), Asia (15%), Latin America & the Caribbean (9%), North America (8%), MENA (2%)<br/>
 +
*2/3&nbsp;male and 1/3 female participants<br/>
 +
*Majority aged 35-44 (47%), 20% aged 45-55, 15% between 25-34<br/>
 +
*Working&nbsp;in international organizations (23%), NGOs (23%), research (16%), private sector (13%), and governments (4%)<br/>
 +
*18% earned the final certificate – activity rates above-average, compared to reference values of Harvard research (9%)<br/>
  
= Certificates =
+
<br/>
  
All participants who have successfully completed the course requirements are awarded with a certificate upon the end of the course. All certificates will be personalised and issued by the PAEGC initiative and&nbsp;TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences.&nbsp;The certificate policies will follow soon.
+
For more details of the evaluation, check out the MOOC fact sheet<br/>
  
&nbsp;
+
[[File:PoweringAg MOOC FactsheetResults.pdf|180px|MOOC fact sheet|alt=MOOC fact sheet]]<br/>
  
= The Global Initiative PAEGC and its Partners =
+
= About the Organisers<br/> =
  
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. GIZ supports the initiative on behalf of BMZ.&nbsp;&nbsp;www.poweringag.org
+
'''[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/>
  
&nbsp;
+
'''[https://www.th-koeln.de/en/homepage_26.php TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences]'''&nbsp;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/>
  
= Links and videos =
+
= Further Information<br/> =
  
[https://poweringag.org https://poweringag.org]<br/>[http://www.bmz.de/en/ http://www.bmz.de/en/]<br/>[https://www.usaid.gov/ https://www.usaid.gov/]<br/>[http://www.sida.se/English/ http://www.sida.se/English/]<br/>[https://www.giz.de/en/ https://www.giz.de/en/]<br/>[https://www.th-koeln.de/en/ https://www.th-koeln.de/en/]<br/>[[Portal:Powering Agriculture|https://energypedia.info/wiki/Portal:Powering_Agriculture]]
+
*'''[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/index.php/course-reader/ Reader of the MOOC "Powering Agriculture - Sustainable Energy for Food"]<br/>
 +
*GIZ Publication:&nbsp;[[Solar Powered Irrigation Systems - Technology, Economy, Impacts|Solar Powered Irrigation Systems - Technology, Economy, Impacts]]<br/>
  
 
[[Category:Powering_Agriculture]]
 
[[Category:Powering_Agriculture]]

Latest revision as of 12:27, 7 April 2017

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.

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.

Find the MOOC platform with all course material here.

About the Course

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.

Background

Around one third of the energy used worldwide goes into the production and processing of food from field to table. Given 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. With a continuously growing world population the need for food and for energy to produce is increasing. At the same time millions of farmers and processors in developing countries and emerging economies lack access to clean energy technologies for irrigation, drying, cooling. How can these needs be met sustainably? We have to produce more food with less energy, make energy use more efficient, and introduce and upscale more clean energy technologies.

The MOOC attended these challenges and dealt with the questions: "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?"

Curriculum

Introduction

Week 1

Introduction to the Energy-Agriculture Nexus

Renewable Energy Technologies and Energy Efficiency in Agricultural Value Chains

Week 2

Renewable Energy Resources and Technology Overview

Week 3

Bioenergy for Agricultural Value Chains

Week 4

Energy efficiency in Agriculture

Economics of the Energy-Agriculture Nexus

Week 5

Energy and Agriculture on the Macro Level

Week 6

Energy and Agriculture on the Micro Level

Week 7

Business Models for Energy and Agriculture Projects

Summary

Week 8

Summary


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.

Course Material

The course material will stay accesible to the public on the platform.

All the material and videos are still online available without registration:

Introduction to the Energy-Agriculture Nexus

The first week of the MOOC provided an introduction to the Energy-Agriculture Nexus, spotlighted climate change aspects and presented an overview of energy inputs in agricultural value chains. These topics were covered in the reading material and the videos. A highlight of this week was the expert interview with Katie Kennedy Freeman providing insights into the World Bank's approaches to support clean energy solutions for agricultural value chains.

Videos:

Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency in Agricultural Value Chains

Week 2: Renewable Energy Resources and Technology Overview
The second week dealt with "Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies". The reading introduced the technical part of the MOOC "Powering Agriculture - Sustainable Energy for Food". The chapter provided an overview on renewable energy (RE) resources and a selection of technologies to harness these resources. A particular focus was on solar power – one of the most versatile technologies; including a design guide for solar powered irrigation systems. Nonetheless, the other technologies were briefly explored.

Video lecture by Prof. Ramchandra Bhandari, TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences


Week 3: Bioenergy Overview

The bioenergy session provided a technical overview on Bioenergy Resources and Technologies, biogas fundamentals, and the many uses of biogas in agricultural value chains. This unit 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.

Video lecture by Miguel Franco, Powering Agriculture Task Support Order (PASTO) & Director at Tetra Tech - Bionenergy and Environment


Week 4: Energy Efficiency in the Energy-Agriculture Nexus

The fourth unit introduced the concepts of Energy Efficiency and sustainable energy use. Participants gained an understanding of why 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. A highlight of this week is a case study about energy efficiency in Kenyan tea factories.

Video lecture by Prof. Ramchandra Bhandari, TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences

Economics of the Energy-Agriculture Nexus

Week 5: Policies and Regulations for the Energy-Agriculture Nexus

The unit introduced the macro-economic aspects of the Energy-Agriculture Nexus by providing knowledge on Policies and Regulations for the Energy-Agriculture Nexus. Several Policy Tools for Promoting Renewable Energies have been presented and compared. For instance, the concept of circular economy is introduced as a mode of economic organization to minimize
resource use and promote adoption of cleaner technologies in agricultural value chains. This chapter also touches upon regulation of energy use and transitions to cleaner, renewable energies, as well as upon socio-economic impacts of energy
production and use. The chapter closes with a unit on markets and financing needs and opportunities for projects at the interface of energy and agriculture.

Video lecture by Alisher Mirzabaev, Senior Researcher at the Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn


Week 6: Energy and Agriculture on the Micro Level

The module continued the economics sessions addressing the Energy-Agriculture Nexus on the micro level. Participants learned about the differences in energy inputs and the potential to incorporate renewables for agri-food businesses of different scales (e.g. subsistence level-farm vs. large corporate businesses). They also learned about investment planning and tools for techno-economic analysis of energy projects in agricultural value chains, and about Cost-benefit Analysis.

Video lecture by Stefania Bracco, expert in Energy-Smart Agri-Food Chains, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)


Week 7: Business Models for Projects in the Energy-Agriculture Nexus

The unit provided the participants with know-how on 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.

Video lecture by Prof. Ramchandra Bhandari, TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences

Summary

This last unit in week 8 of the MOOC looked back at the 7 previous weeks: Participants have learned about the Energy-Agriculture Nexus in general, about different renewable energy resources and technologies, as well as energy efficiency, in the context of agricultural value chains, and also about macro- and microeconomic aspects of the Nexus.

Video lecture by Prof. Ramchandra Bhandari, TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences

MOOC evaluation

Quick facts:

  • 1354 participants mostly from Sub-Saharan Africa (40%), but also from Europe (26%), Asia (15%), Latin America & the Caribbean (9%), North America (8%), MENA (2%)
  • 2/3 male and 1/3 female participants
  • Majority aged 35-44 (47%), 20% aged 45-55, 15% between 25-34
  • Working in international organizations (23%), NGOs (23%), research (16%), private sector (13%), and governments (4%)
  • 18% earned the final certificate – activity rates above-average, compared to reference values of Harvard research (9%)


For more details of the evaluation, check out the MOOC fact sheet

MOOC fact sheet

About the Organisers

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.

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.

Further Information