Challenges of Agribusiness Management from Coursera

The goal of this course is to understand the challenges and opportunities of agribusiness nowadays. From farms to retailers, from input providers to traders, all the diverse players of this value chain interact a complex business environment in which nature, policy, technology and management strategies have to be considered to overcome future challenges and seize upcoming opportunities.

To understand such complexity we will take Italy as a large, open-air lab in which all major phenomena and business dynamics influencing agribusiness worldwide coexist and clearly show their effects. History, heritage and tradition, technology and innovation, brilliant farmers and multinational companies, all in a constrained, diverse physical and business landscape, Italy is the perfect sampling area for agribusiness.

In our learning experience we will benefit from the knowledge and experience of different Bocconi University Professors and several CEOs and top executives who are re-shaping agribusiness concepts.

Course Syllabus:

Week 1: Heritage and Excellence in Italian Agriculture

Week 2: Challenges of the Global Agro-System

Week 3: Innovation in Agribusiness

Week 4: Developing new business concepts

What's inside

Syllabus

Challenges of the Global Agro-System

The week focuses its attention on the challenges of the global agro-system. Population growth, income growth, transition of emergent economies toward a high-calorie diet: all these levers increase the demand for food. At the same time, climate change and its consequences threaten the production of sufficient food to feed the world. Another theme investigated during the first week is the process of commoditization that characterizes agricultural products. Firstly, distinctive aspects of commodities are analysed. At a later stage, the impact of industrialization and economy of services on price transmission along the agro-food value chain is discussed.

Global Agribusiness

The second week gives an overview of actual agribusiness competitive dynamics focusing on the role and features of each player of the supply chain. Then, the five largest agricultural systems in the world are examined (Europe, US, Brazil, China and India). Each agricultural system is explained going through its history, evolution and main features in terms of typical productions, commercial relations, trends and dynamics that will affect it in the years to come. The final part of the week deepens the Italian agricultural system. The conditions, skills and competences that have allowed Italy to become the first country in the world in terms of quality agri-food products are discussed and summarized.

Sustainability in Agribusiness

The third week is about sustainability in agriculture. Sustainable agriculture contributes to all four pillars of food security (availability, access, utilization and stability) and to the three dimensions of sustainability: environmental, social and economic. In the first part of the week, the focus is on sustainable practices and techniques such as crop rotation, organic farming and integrated pest management. Then, the role of farms as actors that enhance ecosystem services is deepened. Later, the multiple benefits of cooperation and aggregation from small-scale farmers point of view are discussed.

Innovation in Agribusiness

The fourth week deals with innovation in the agribusiness industry. The basics in the discipline of Innovation Management are provided, such as the difference between innovation and invention and the ingredients for a successful innovation process. Later, the focus shifts on the growing importance of services for companies and the concept of “servicization” is explained. Then, the agrifood industry main innovation trajectories (i.e. vertical farming, biotechnologies, digitalization and big data, satellites) are analysed through a series of interviews with industry players that represent the above mentioned trends.

FINAL PROJECT

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines the business implications of agribusiness worldwide

Taught by a team of experts from Bocconi University and industry leaders

Offers case studies and examples from the Italian agricultural industry

Involves real-world learning through interviews with industry players

Suitable for learners with a background in business or agriculture

Reviews summary

Well-received agribusiness course

Learners largely positive about Challenges of Agribusiness Management, saying it is a helpful introduction for individuals new to the industry. Informative, insightful, and comprehensive, this course covers key concepts such as global challenges, supply chain issues, and agribusiness management. Students praise the course for its helpful weekly tests, practical examples, and discussion forums. Overall, students say this course is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in a career in agribusiness.

Encourages student collaboration.

"I have found this course really interesting even if I studied a lot as regards Agribusiness Management during the university period. I just wish it was possible to improve the discussion and the collaboration between peers in the future."

Engaging instructors.

"The course is awesome. The video tutorial and weekly test is very effective."

"Learning this course was made easy by the lecturers. "

Includes real-world examples.

"VERY INTERESTING AND USEFUL "

"It's give me a ton of new insight"

"Excellent course every agriculture student must study.It will help me in a future lot."

Organized and easy to follow.

"well done and comprehensive"

"very insightful and easily understandable"

"Excellent and very well explained Course"

Provides valuable insights.

"Very useful "

"very insightful"

"overall very good"

"Informative course "

"excellent and easily understandable"

Well-received by students.

"good"

"succinct!"

"Top-notch"

"comfortable"

"¡I loved it!!"

"really insightful"

"content of the course is very elaborate and enriching."

Assignment review system could be improved.

"i don't like the assignment review system by peers/students of the course , where no one do it properly and no one review on time to our submitted assignment."

Some topics may lack depth.

"I have experience in related topics of this course, and I wanted to update my knowledge, but sometimes I saw some topics don't contain the necessary deep."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Challenges of Agribusiness Management with these activities:

Review: Food and Agriculture in Italy

Show steps

Sharpen your understanding of the history and underlying fundamentals of Italian agribusiness, providing a solid foundation for the course.

Show steps

Read the introduction and first chapter of the book.
Pay special attention to the historical development of the Italian agricultural sector.
Take notes on the key challenges and opportunities facing Italian agriculture today.

Organize and review your notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams from the course.

Show steps

Improve your retention of the course material and prepare for assessments.

Show steps

Gather all of your notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams from the course.
Organize the materials into a logical order.
Review the materials regularly to reinforce your understanding of the course content.

Write a blog post summarizing the key challenges and opportunities facing the global agro-system.

Show steps

Solidify your understanding of the complex global agro-system and improve your communication skills.

Show steps

Research the key challenges and opportunities facing the global agro-system.
Organize your research into a logical outline.
Write a clear and concise summary of your findings.
Proofread and edit your blog post before publishing it.

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Solve practice problems on key agribusiness concepts such as supply chain management and financial analysis.

Show steps

Enhance your problem-solving abilities and reinforce your understanding of fundamental agribusiness concepts.

Browse courses on Supply Chain Management

Show steps

Review the course materials on supply chain management and financial analysis.
Find practice problems online or in textbooks.
Solve the practice problems and check your answers.

Follow online tutorials on emerging technologies in agribusiness such as precision farming and data analytics.

Show steps

Stay up-to-date with the latest technological trends in agribusiness and enhance your technical skills.

Show steps

Identify online tutorials on emerging technologies in agribusiness.
Follow the tutorials and take notes on the key concepts.
Apply the concepts learned from the tutorials to your own projects or research.

Develop a business plan for a new agricultural product or service.

Show steps

Apply the principles of agribusiness management to a real-world project, enhancing your entrepreneurial skills.

Show steps

Identify a market opportunity for a new agricultural product or service.
Conduct market research to understand the target market.
Develop a prototype of your product or service.
Create a marketing and sales plan.
Write a business plan outlining your financial projections and growth strategy.

Attend industry events and conferences related to agribusiness.

Show steps

Connect with professionals in the agribusiness industry and gain valuable insights and career advice.

Show steps

Identify industry events and conferences related to agribusiness.
Register for the events and plan your attendance.
Attend the events and actively engage with professionals in the field.
Follow up with the professionals you met after the events.

Contribute to open source projects related to agribusiness.

Show steps

Enhance your problem-solving skills, collaborate with others, and make a meaningful contribution to the agribusiness community.

Browse courses on Open Source

Show steps

Identify open source projects related to agribusiness.
Review the project documentation and identify areas where you can contribute.
Submit your contributions to the project.
Collaborate with other contributors to improve the project.

Career center

Learners who complete Challenges of Agribusiness Management will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Research Scientist

Research Scientists conduct research to develop new products and technologies. This course might be helpful to someone in this field. This course delves into the challenges and opportunities of innovation in agribusiness. This course can equip you with the tools needed to be a more successful researcher.

See salaries and explore the career path for Research Scientist

Sustainability Manager

Sustainability Managers develop and implement sustainability strategies for organizations. This course may be useful to someone in this field. This course delves into the challenges and opportunities of sustainability in agribusiness. This course will equip you with the knowledge needed to be a successful Sustainability Manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Manager

Farm Sustainability Officer

Farm Sustainability Officers help to improve the sustainability of agricultural practices. This course may be useful to someone in this field. This course delves into the challenges and opportunities of sustainability in agribusiness. This course can help you to make your farm more sustainable.

See salaries and explore the career path for Farm Sustainability Officer

International Agricultural Development Officer

International Agricultural Development Officers work to improve agricultural practices in developing countries. This course may be useful to someone in this field. This course provides an overview of the challenges facing the global agro-system. This course can help you gain a better understanding of the importance of agricultural development.

See salaries and explore the career path for International Agricultural Development Officer

Supply Chain Manager

Supply Chain Managers oversee the flow of goods from suppliers to customers. This course may be useful to someone in this field. This course focuses on the challenges facing the global agro-system. This course can help you to understand the supply chains and value chains common to agribusiness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Supply Chain Manager

Market Research Analyst

Market Research Analysts collect and analyze data on consumer behavior. This course may be useful to someone in this field. This course focuses on the challenges and opportunities of agribusiness. This course can help you to develop the skills needed to be a successful Market Research Analyst in the agricultural industry.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Research Analyst

Commodity Trader

Commodity Traders buy, sell, and transport agricultural commodities, such as wheat, corn, and soybeans. This course may be useful to someone in this field. This course focuses on the challenges and opportunities of the global agro-system. This course can help you to understand the complex business environment that Commodity Traders operate in.

See salaries and explore the career path for Commodity Trader

Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts develop and evaluate public policy. This course may be useful to someone in this field. This course gives an overview of the challenges facing the global agro-system. This course can help you to better understand the challenges involved in making agricultural policy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Policy Analyst

Food Scientist

Food Scientists develop, test, and evaluate new food products. This course may be useful to someone in this field. This course focuses on innovation in agribusiness. This course can help you to understand the latest trends in food science and product development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Food Scientist

Venture Capitalist

Venture Capitalists invest in new businesses and startups. This course may be useful to someone in this field. This course focuses on innovation in agribusiness. This course can help you to understand the investment landscape in the agricultural industry.

See salaries and explore the career path for Venture Capitalist

Professor

Professors teach and conduct research at universities and other educational institutions. This course may be useful to someone in this field. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges facing agribusiness. This course can help you to stay up-to-date with the latest research in the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Professor

Farm Manager

Farm Managers plan, organize, and oversee agricultural operations on a farm or ranch. This course might be helpful to someone in this field. It will provide you with a good understanding of the challenges facing the global agricultural system. This course can help you to become a better Farm Manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Farm Manager

Agribusiness Consultant

Agribusiness Consultants work with businesses to help improve their operations, make strategic decisions, and grow their business. This course may be useful to someone in this field. This course provides an in-depth overview of the agribusiness industry, from farms to the retail level. This course can help you become a stronger consultant.

See salaries and explore the career path for Agribusiness Consultant

Agricultural Policy Analyst

Agricultural Policy Analysts typically have broad knowledge of agricultural economics and rural sociology. This course might be helpful to someone in this field. This course will delve into the challenges and opportunities of agribusiness, both in Italy and on a global scale. This course is well-suited for someone that wants to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Agricultural Policy Analyst

Agricultural Economist

Agricultural Economists typically have a solid grounding in economics, econometrics, and statistics. This course may be useful to someone in this field. It will provide you with a broad background in the challenges facing agribusiness, as well as strategies for overcoming them. This course is ideal for those that want to understand more about the business of agriculture.

See salaries and explore the career path for Agricultural Economist