Course Outline

Introduction to Management, Marketing and Crop Experimentation 

Module Type:Theoretical (6 Group Counseling Meetings x 4 Hours, 3 individual projects) 
Duration: 10 months
ECTS: 15
Module Level:Compulsory Course
 
Additional Work: Lab rotation, 16 working days per month (4 days per week), six hours per day (this is common with other modules)
 
Module Aim:
The aim of this module is for students to acquire knowledge and skills that will allow them to coordinate field responsibilities, cooperate and manage effectively agricultural and food businesses. This module introduces students to the fundamental principles of business organization and management, specializing afterwards in modern field areas, emphasizing in acquiring basic knowledge regarding the development of business activities. Furthermore, this modules aims in comprehending and developing the proper skills to successfully adopt and implement Agricultural & Food Marketing, in a global, competitive and constantly changing business environment. Finally, as an introductory module in the master program, it aims in acquainting students with a variety of research methodology and statistical analysis, which are considered necessary for the completion of their essays during their studies, as well as the completion of their dissertation thesis. Methodologically, apart from the lectures, this module will also be based in case studies, comprehension exercises, role playing that will be adjusted in the specialized demands and characteristics of the agricultural and food industry. 
 
With the successful completion of this module, students are expected to have:
Knowledge in order to be able to comprehend the basic principles of Management and Marketing, discern the different operations of a business and how these are connected and interact, perceive the role of human resources for the successful operation of a business, understand the agricultural and food marketing systems, as well as the importance of developing a business plan for a successful business operation.
Skills in order to (a) be able to apply market segmentation in examples of existing businesses and make decisions for each element of the marketing mix through individual courseworks and group essays; (b) be able to chose and implement proper statistical methods for data processing. 
Abilities in order to be able to analyze case studies and provide solutions to management and marketing problems that real or virtual businesses face. 

Teaching Staff: 
Dr George Markakis – Professor
Dr. Eirini Dimou – Assistant Professor
Dr. Vasiliki Avgeli – External Associate 

 
Module Outline:
Introduction to Management science
Entrepreneurship and Modern Businesses/Organizations
Management Operations (1): Organization and decision making
Management Operations (2): Business Organization
Management Operations (3): Communication, leadership and Group Management
Business Strategic Design:

Agricultural and Food Industry Analysis
Competitive Advantage Business Strategy

Operational Management (logistics, production, finance, human resources, marketing etc).
Modern trends in management (change management, total quality management)
Introduction to Marketing (Basic Concepts in marketing theory, Marketing Systems and functions, Marketing Mix, The importance of Agricultural and Food Marketing, The link between agriculture and the food industry, Micro and Macro environment of agricultural and food businesses).
Consumer Behavior and Market Segmentation (The consumer buying decision process, Market Segmentation, Bases for market segmentation, Strategic approaches to market segmentation).
Product Strategy (The new product development process, Product Life-Cycle, Marketing strategies during the product’s life-cycle, Brand decisions, Package and label decisions).
Pricing Strategy (Defining price, The laws of offer and demand, Pricing methods).
Distribution Strategy (The importance of distribution channels, Types of distribution channels, Retailers – Wholesalers, Physical distribution).
Promotion – Communication Strategy (The communication process, Development of effective communication, Marketing Mix: Advertising, Personal Selling, Public Relations - Publicity, Sales Promotion, Marketing Mix decisions, Measuring promotion results).
Introduction to Data Analysis
Basic Statistics
The Normal Distribution
Confidence Intervals
The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
Introduction to Experimentation
Completely Randomized Experiments
Randomized Block Design
Factorial Experiments with and without Interaction
Latin Squares
Split – Plot & Other Designs
Simple and Multiple Regression Analysis

Plant Protection 

Module Type: Theoretical (6 Lectures x 4 hours, 3 individual projects)
Duration: 10 months
ECTS: 15 units
Module Level:Elective Course(outof total four choices)
 
Additional Work: Lab rotation, 16 working days per month (4 days per week), six hours per day (this is common with other modules)
 
Module Aim:
The main objective of this course is to provide the students with an overview of Plant Protection by providing knowledge of how pests and diseases interact with each other as well as with the plants, while also by combining control measures with respect to a comprehensive and effective solution. Students will meet with a combination of the three basic elements of Plant Protection (Entomology, Phytopathology and Crop Protection), enabling them to administer pests and diseases management of a certain crop, starting from the diagnosis of the most important pests and diseases end resulting to the selection of the most effective measures. Particular emphasis will be given to the low-input farming systems (Integrated Crop Management, Organic farming) so that the students acquire the necessary skills regarding the farming systems of the future.
 

Teaching Staff:

Dr Dimitrios Goumas, Professor
Dr Evangelos Kapetanakis, Professor
Dr Dimitriοs Kollaros, Associate Professor
Dr Eleftherios Alissandrakis, Εξωτερικός Συνεργάτης
Dr Emmanouil Kabourakis, Teaching and Research Assistant 
Dr Emmanouil Markakis, Teaching and Research Assistant 
Dr Anastasia Tsagkarakou, Teaching and Research Assistant 
Dr Emmanouil Tzortzakakis, Teaching and Research Assistant  

Module Outline:
Relationship between population density of pests and economic loss
Arthropod pests: diagnosis, population monitoring and control methods
Plant diseases: Bacteria - Phytoplasmas Fungi - Oomycetes and Viruses as plants pathogens and their management
Plant nematodes
Interaction mechanisms between plants and pathogens
Mode of action and intelligent applications of mechanical, biological and chemical plant protection measures
Methodology and diagnostic techniques of plant diseases, detection methods of plant pathogens
Current approaches of Crop Protection in Integrated Crop Management and organic farming systems
Organic farming and plant pathogens
Non-crop arthropod pests, beneficial arthropods and other uses of arthropods
Productive insects (honey bee, silkworm)
Special issues of the side effects of plant protection measures
Special issues of problems of traded products from harvest to the shelf and the consumer, and prevention - response measures
Postharvest diseases
Mycotoxins , effects of fungal toxins on human and animal health
Climate change and plant diseases
Arthropods in food chain, protected arthropods and ecological indicators
Quarantine insects and their management
Quarantine pathogens and emerging diseases
Case studies of Integrated Pest Management
Principles for creating Plant Protection Plans 
 

Resources Management and Ecology  

Module Type: Theoretical (6 Lectures x 4 hours, plus 3 field trips, 3 individual projects)
Duration: 10 months
ECTS: 15 units
Module Level: Selective Course (out of total four choices)
 
Additional Work: Lab rotation, 16 working days per month (4 days per week), six hours per day (this is common with other modules)
 
Module Aim:
Main aim of the module is to allow students to develop the appropriate knowledge and skills, which would lead them in understanding and deal with, issues related to water resources, agricultural wastes and ecology, as one and interactive entity. This will be achieved through presenting and familiarizing students with the managing tools and monitoring processes that each separated field features, and how these are combined towards the optimum and complete outcome, within the European and National legislation framework.  At the same time efforts will be made to present all possible business opportunities behind these monitoring and managing processes, originating from innovative solutions and ideas.
 

Teaching Staff:

Dr Thrassyvoulos Manios, AssociateProfessor
Dr Dimitris Kollaros, AssociateProfessor
Dr Magdalene Dragasaki, Assistant Professor
Dr Ioannis Daliakopoulos, Teaching and Research Assistant 
Dr Michalis Fountoulakis, Teaching and Research Assistant 

Module Outline:
Introduction to ecology and ecosystems, and specifically in water and agricultural  ecosystems
Basic principles of hydrometeorology. Precipitation, possible maximum precipitation, evaporation and transpiration, drought and drought indicators.    
Basic principles of hydrology. Floods, runoff analysis, correlating precipitation and runoff, rational evaluation method.
Natural environmental pressures in plants and other organisms (eg drought, temperature increase, salinity)
Ecological monitoring sampling design and implementation, in relation with the investigated organisms and the ecosystems 
Biodiversity assessment and monitoring 
Water balance, flow requirements and uses, reservoirs management and water footprint
Water ecosystems and the importance of their management
Irrigation requirements, evapotranspiration, efficient rainfall, cultivations efficiency vs water use 
Irrigation systems, innovation and water savings, precision agriculture 
Wastewater management and reuse
Managing protected areas (NATURA, forests, etc)
Wastes production in urban and rural areas, agroindustrial wastes
Anaerobic digestion principles and innovative applications
Composting principles and innovative applications
Incineration and gasification principles and innovative applications
Solar drying principles and innovative applications
GPS technology utilization for increasing the productivity of agricultural wastes energy utilization units
National and European Legislation in:
Ecology
Water resources management
Solid wastes and wastewater management 
 

Innovation in Agricultural Production 

Module Type: Theoretical (6 Lectures x 4 hours, plus 3 field trips, 3 individual projects)
Duration: 10 months
ECTS: 15 units
Module Level: Selective Course (out of total four choices)
 
Additional Work: Lab rotation, 16 working days per month (4 days per week), six hours per day (this is common with other modules)
 
Module Aim:
Current and new methods for production and management of plant propagation material, vine and wine products, aromatic and edible plants of the Cretan flora and post-harvest physiology and technology of fresh horticultural products. This will be achieved through teaching graduate students:
The current -modern technology of commercial  production of sexual and vegetative propagation, the use of tissue culture for the production of healthy and genetically pure propagating material and the conditions associated with the production and marketing of plant propagation material.
The new and innovative methods and technologies that allow the proper and effective management of vine and wine products.
The potential of commercial production of aromatic, pharmaceutical and edible plants of the native Cretan flora.
Basic subjects of postharvest physiology of horticulture and floriculture products, and the methods and technology that allows proper and efficient postharvest management of these products. 

Teaching Staff:

Dr Grammatikaki Garifallia
Dr Papadimitriou Michael
Dr Fysarakis Ioannis
Dr Lydakis Demetrios
Dr Dragasaki Magdalene
Dr Filippos Ververidis
External -lecturer 

Module outline
Physiological mechanisms, principals and techniques of plant propagation
Seed production in self and cross pollinated plants 
Production of vegetative plant propagation material
Structural and physiological characteristics of successful sexual and vegetative plant propagation
Practices, techniques and set backs of cell and tissue culture as a mean of plant propagation material production
Pathogen dispersion through plant propagation material. Methods of producing healthy/ immune propagation material
Techniques of pathogen diagnosis in plant propagation material.
Methods and techniques for disease free propagation material :meristem tip culture, Heat treatment, Chemotherapy, micrografting
Certified plant propagation material – disease free and genetically pure.
Determination  of the conditions, the procedures and the steps to be taken in order to start a plant propagation and marketing business (technical regulations, legislation, types of businesses, inspection and certification services, etc.)11.  Planning and establishment of a commercial vineyard. Evaluation of Vineyards- Varietal composition of vineyards; New varieties Commercial viticulture techniques  Current wine production technology Table Grapes New raisin production techniques. Spirits
Floral Kingdoms. European, Mediterranean, Greek and Cretean Flora. Economic importance. Botany and Biodiversity. Rare and endangered species. Conservation methods. Aromatic and medicinal plants. Their cultivation and uses. Edible native plants-Suggestions for commercial cultivation. Native plants for landscaping and restoration of disturbed areas. Dyeing, allergenic, poisonous plants. Use of native plants in education and ecotourism.
Ingredients and quality measurement of fruit, vegetable and flowers. Pre and post harvest factors affecting keeping quality and storage duration of horticultural products. Post harvest handling (sorting, packaging, transport, etc.). Storage methods and storage conditions of fresh agricultural products at low temperatures and controlled gas atmosphere. Water relations and preservative solutions for cut flowers 

Biotechnology and Agriculture 

Module Type: Theoretical (6 Lectures x 4 hours, 3 individual projects)
Duration: 10 months
ECTS: 15 units
Module Level:Elective Course(out of total four choices)
 
Additional Work: Lab rotation, 16 working days per month (4 days per week), six hours per day (this is common with other modules)
 
ModuleAim:
The main objective of this course is to give students an overview, contact and familiarity with specific subjects concerning the applications of science in specific topics of Plant Physiology, with emphasis on biological mechanisms that are further analyzedin principle by the Molecular Plant Physiology and find many applications in Plant Biotechnology.
Specifically, the course seeks to link theoretical knowledge with practical and applied agricultural practices and environmental issuesin an evolvingenvironment. It is the environmental biotic and abiotic stresses that are the major causes affecting the quality and quantity of crop yield.
Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of plant responses, is a prerequisite for the development of biotechnology applications. Learning the most recent achievements, techniques and technologies and their applications in agriculture, with emphasis on genetic engineering, it is now considered as highly desired.
Moreover, understanding the potential of biotechnology to tackle crop problems directly associated with the above approaches. Also being extremely important to understand the risk assessment and necessity of legislative regulations for the release of genetically modified plants into the environment.
The dominating novel technology that is at the heart of all different types of "Biotechnology" is considered to be "Genetic Engineering". The latter innovative methodology, includes a broad spectrum of scientific subjects, encompassing studies varyingat a working range from molecules to ecosystems.
The overarching objective of genetic engineering is the ability to modify the molecular mechanisms for their even more efficient operation, using techniques of Molecular Genetics and Molecular Biology, at a horizontal gene level, whether this gene belong to bacteria, plants, animals or humans.
Therefore, this innovative technology has been tapped into respective basic biology driven disciplines like Agriculture, Veterinary, Medicine, etc.
 

Teaching Staff:

Dr Filippos Ververidis, Professor
Dr Kostantinos Loulakakis, Professor
Dr Magdalene Dragasaki, Assistant Professor
Dr Emmanuel Trantas, External Scientific Collaborator
Dr Konstantinos Paschalidis, Assistant Professor
Andriana Stavropoulou, External Scientific Collaborator 
 
Module outline
Phytohormones and other biomolecules having a hormonal action: New developments and applications in the agricultural output.
The "brisk" root system: selection, gene background and its role in production improvement.
The role of spatial distribution and vigor of the overground plantportion in crop production: Genetic improvement and crop management techniques.
The genetic control of flowering: Environmental, crop cultivation and genetic management.
Ecophysiology crops topics(photosynthesis and water relations, production and distribution of metabolites).
Beneficial plant - pathogens interactions. Symbioses between plants - microorganisms and their importance in the agricultural output.
Biosynthesis and role of secondary metabolites in plant defense mechanisms.
Physiology and Biotechnology of Plant Stress: Response of plants to abiotic (drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, anoxia, radiation, heavy metals, etc.) and biotic stresses - Oxidative stress
Molecular Physiology and Biotechnology of nitrogen metabolism in plants
Biotechnological utilization of secondary metabolites
Applications of enzymes - Enzymes of agronomic interest
Biotechnological applications of in vitro plant cell culture
Safety of Genetically Modified Agricultural Products - Legal Framework, Greek-European-International
The contribution of Biotechnology in Vegetable Crops - Case Studies of the recent publications of high impact factor scientific journals.
The contribution of Biotechnology in Arboriculture - Case Studies of the recent publications of high impact factor scientific journals.
The contribution of Biotechnology in Floriculture - Case Studies of the recent publications of high impact factor scientific journals.
The contribution of Biotechnology in Entomology -Case Studies of the recent publications of high impact factor scientific journals.
The contribution of Biotechnology in Plant Pathology - Case Studies of the recent publications of high impact factor scientific journals.
The contribution of Biotechnology inPostharvest Technology - Case Studies of the recent publications of high impact factor scientific journals.
Biotechnology and Society. Regulations for the release of genetically modified plants. Benefits and risks of using genetically modified organisms.