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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Identify the farm agroecosystem functions at a systems level
   • Identify and map energy flows through a farm agroecosystem
   • Identify and map nutrient cycles through different parts of a farm ecosystem
   • Identify disturbance points in the farm ecosystem succession
   • Develop a model of the farm ecosystem and its elements
   • Identify areas of complexity and simplicity within the farm ecosystem
   • Identify ecosystem functions that can be used to replace the use of external inputs in the farm production systems
   • Identify interactions between elements of farm ecosystem
   • Assess health of existing farm ecosystems
2. Develop plans to enhance farm agroecosystem
   • Identify areas within the agroecosystem that require enhancement
   • Identify methods that encourage niche development, increase complexity in the farm agroecosystem and improve interactions between different components of farm agroecosystem
   • Document the implementation plan
3. Manage Farm Agroecosystems
   • Identify and monitor appropriate parts of the ecosystem
   • Set up monitoring system
   • Comply with requirements for monitoring determined by organic standards and legislative requirements
   • Review measured ecosystem and farm production performance with expected performance and adjust plan in response to differences

Range Statement

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Performance Evidence

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

identify the farm agro ecosystem functions at a systems level

assess the health of existing farm ecosystems

develop plans to enhance farm agroecosystem

manage and monitor the development of a farm ecosystem

review ecosystem and farm production performance

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Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

advantages of ecological agriculture

ecosystem processes, energy flows, nutrient cycles, biological succession, predator and prey relationships, ecological niche

relationships between ecosystems and agricultural production

application of ecosystem processes to a production system

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