Agribusiness Systems Analysis

What it is about

You analyze modern agricultural and food systems from economic and institutional perspectives. In the end you can describe the actors, structures and framework conditions of a value chain, assess its performance with economic models, and propose suitable market- and non-market-based solutions for improvement.

What you will be able to do

• Describe the main components, actors and interactions of an agribusiness system
• analyze the socio-economic context, institutional framework conditions and relevant industrial policy
• evaluate performance and welfare distribution with economic models
• assess the impact of institutional framework conditions and agro-economic innovations
• find market- and non-market-based approaches to system improvement
• analyze economic value creation and present the analysis orally
• write a written analysis (final report)

What the module consists of

• LectureConveying the institutional framework, trends, challenges as well as economic models and concepts
• Group workResearch, performance assessment of value chains, development of solutions and creation of the final report
• PresentationOral presentation of the analysis, training of presentation and discussion skills
• Market experimentsIllustration of economic models and concepts (e.g., the market for lemons experiment)
• Discussion/FeedbackIntegration of feedback into the final written document

Teaching method

• Frontal lectureProviding the necessary background knowledge and the economic models for value chain analysis
• Market experimentsIllustration and demonstration of economic models and conceptual framework
• Group workTrains research, analysis, solution development and the joint creation of the final report
• Student presentations and discussionPractice of oral presentation of the analysis and gathering feedback to improve the written report