Teaching code

4S011638

Teacher

Leonardo Fabio Pastorino

Coordinator

Leonardo Fabio Pastorino

Credits

6

Also offered in courses:

• Comparative agri-food law of the course Master's degree in Law for Technologies and Sustainable Innovation

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

IUS/03 - AGRI-FOOD LAW

Period

1° periodo lezioni (1B) dal Nov 5, 2025 al Dec 17, 2025.

Courses Single

Authorized

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

L’insegnamento si propone di fornire agli studenti una preparazione di base sul diritto agrario sottolieandone le finalità, il ruolo nella realizzazione dei bisogni essenziali dell’uomo e le sue relazioni con i vari diritti umani. Verrano individuate le principali caratteristiche che fanno del diritto agrario un sistema con una propria identità e saranno presentati i principali istituti relativi all’accesso e alla gestione delle risorse naturali e tecnologiche necessarie per l’esercizio dell’attività agricola, nonché quelli relativi all’organizzazione dell’impresa agricola, dedicando particolare attenzione alle problematiche connesse alla scarsità di alcune risorse naturali, come terra e acqua, e all’accesso ai progressi tecnologici e alle innovazioni genetiche. Contestualmente verrà evidenziato l’adeguamento dei vari istituti e delle norme agrarie alle esigenze dello sviluppo economico, sociale, ambientale e rurale. Lo studente acquisirà le conoscenze di base necessarie per interpretare la realtà produttiva nel cui ambito potrà svolgere la propria professione e per formulare, autonomamente e criticamente, riflessioni e giudizi sui principali temi oggetto dell’insegnamento. Il corso si propone di mostrare il dinamismo e l’adattabilità del diritto agrario alle diverse realtà locali, ai differenti livelli di sviluppo raggiunti o prefissati, alle particolari condizioni geografiche, ecologiche e climatiche, evidenziando il ruolo dell’attività agricola e del diritto agrario come disciplina trasformatrice della realtà economica, sociale e ambientale.

Prerequisites and basic notions

General knowledge of property, goods, business and contract law.

Program

1) Agricultural law, evolution of the object, purposes, principles and institutions Goal 1; 2 and 12).
2) Agricultural activity and agricultural business. The biological cycle and the characterization of agricultural activities. The specific regime for the farm and farmer.
3) Agricultural law as a tool for transforming the productive reality and the needs of society. The Common Agricultural Policy and its evolution. The role of the market. Rural development and sustainable development (Goal 1; 2; 12 and 15).
4) The role of contracts in agriculture and innovation in contracting:
- Agricultural contracts: historical overview and contracts in force (in particular agricultural tenancy agreement and "soccida" without transfer of land).
- Contracts in the agri-food chain.
5) The company, its goods and the special regimes for the various goods needed in agriculture:
- Discussions on land rights, land use and rural land grabbing. Main typical institutes in the field of agricultural property. The special forest regime.
- Discussions about the right to water, its use in agriculture and drought.
- Discussions in relation to biodiversity, access and the right to modify it. Property rights and farmers' rights (Goal 15).
- Access and use of technology and information and data management.
- Other special legal systems for goods used in agriculture. The current debates on fertilizers and plant protection products. Agricultural residues and composting.
6) Special regimes of production and valorisation of products (Goal 12):
- Organic and sustainable production;
- Designations of origin; geographical indications; traditional specialty and other quality systems.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

The teaching of the course includes frontal lessons, equal to 6 credits, delivered in Italian.
In parallel, complementary study materials (P.Point, Word documents, etc.) and supplementary activities will be offered on the Moodle platform (forum), as well as presentations and debates held during the lesson timetable and seminars by invited professors. During the discussion of topics relating to agricultural activities, by-products and recycling, business and contracts, exercises for the resolution of practical cases (PBS) will be proposed. Students will be able to produce, optionally, a final paper (no more than 3000 characters) on the topics covered in points 5 and 6 of the program.
Non-attending students will have to study all the points of the program using the proposed bibliography and the material uploaded to the Moodle platform.
All students, whether attending or not, are invited to make an appointment for a reception in case of doubts and also before the exam, in the presence of any legislative updates.

Learning assessment procedures

Attending students may, at their discretion, verify points 5 and 6 of the program through the individual paper to be presented during the course of the lessons.
The learning assessment will be carried out through a traditional oral exam with open questions.
For attending students, who have approved the paper voluntarily created, the exam will consist of questions relating to points 1 to 4 of the program.
Attending students who have not completed the paper and non-attending students will take an oral exam on the content of the entire program.

Evaluation criteria

The evaluation will be based on the following criteria:
- the depth and breadth of knowledge acquired;
- critical and reasoned study;
- ability to organize knowledge discursively based on the characteristics and legal principles of the subject;
- the ownership of language (legal and specialized) and quality of presentation;
- analytical and argumentative ability.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The final evaluation is expressed in 30ths. The attribution of the honors is linked to a complete control of the discipline, to an excellent property of language, of analytical and argumentative skills as well as to a capacity for critical reflection on the legislation.
100% of the vote will result from the outcome of the exam according to the criteria mentioned.

Exam language

Italiano. Gli studenti Erasmus potranno realizzare la prova anche in spagnolo.

Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs

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