Global Food and Agricultural Markets (UoA)

International food and agricultural markets have changed dramatically over the last several decades due to accelerating technological change, growing international trade, industrial integration, increasing disposable incomes, and rising food safety and environmental concerns. The agri-food system has evolved from producing and selling primarily homogeneous agricultural commodities to focusing more on value-adding, differentiation and coordination with other firms in the food chain. In order to remain competitive, some agribusiness firms are developing more of a marketing orientation, focusing increasingly on product development to meet heterogeneous consumer preferences and distinct market segments. The dynamic and increasingly global nature of food systems increases the need for sophisticated skills in market analysis, market planning and marketing management. This course approaches global food and agricultural marketing from a managerial perspective. It introduces the basic concepts in economic and marketing theories and place them in the unique context of food and agricultural production, processing, distribution, wholesaling and retailing, where discussion of markets are integrated with business marketing principles and strategy. Students will gain an understanding of the unique and changing structural, institutional, organizational and political aspects of food chains, as well as the fundamental economic theories and concepts necessary for analysis of global food and agricultural markets.