| Responsible Department | Institute of Food and Resource Economics | ||||||||||||||
| Earliest Possible Year | MSc. 1 year to MSc. 2 year | ||||||||||||||
| Duration | One block | ||||||||||||||
| Credits | 7.5 (ECTS) | ||||||||||||||
| Level of Course | MSc | ||||||||||||||
| Examination | Final Examination written examination Portfolio Examination All aids allowed Description of Examination: students will be assessed on the basis of: i) one individual assignment and ii) a 12-hour written examination. The individual assignment is based on the group work must be handed in before the written exam. 12-hour written examination. On the day of the examination questions are available from 8:00 am. The material is made available on Absalon and distributed by e-mail. It is the personal responsibility of each student to make sure that the examination questions and all associated datasets have been received. 12 hours later, at 8:00 pm, all students must upload the result on Absalon. Weight: Weight: 40% individual assignments, 60% 12-hour written exam 7-point scale, external examiner | ||||||||||||||
| Requirement for Attending Exam | Participation in the group presentation is compulsory in order to attend the written exam. | ||||||||||||||
| Organisation of Teaching | Lectures, group project and presentation, case-descriptions, theoretical exercises | ||||||||||||||
| Block Placement | Block 4 Week Structure: B | ||||||||||||||
| Language of Instruction | English | ||||||||||||||
| Course Content | |||||||||||||||
| Development of the agricultural sector is recognized as an important factor in the economic growth of most developing countries. As a consequence of the increasing globalization and internationalization of markets, farmers and agribusiness enterprises in developing countries are becoming increasingly integrated in global value chains. The recognition of the importance of the agricultural sector, including agribusinesses, has led to a growing interest among governments and development agencies in supporting business development and integration of farmers in markets. Local farmers and agribusinesses are offered new opportunities by increasing urbanization and globalization; however, participating in local as well as global markets is not without challenges as farmers are often faced with many institutional and economic barriers. Professionals working in the agricultural sector need to understand the inherent complexity of agriculture-based value chains and the dynamic interaction among different types of actors. In this course we aim to provide the participants with knowledge and skills to analyze agricultural value chain development in developing countries. The course will address the following main topics: . The nature and role of the agricultural sector in developing economies, as well as the nature of its markets including consumer behavior and retail structures . Different concepts of agricultural value chains; and research and intervention methodologies for mapping and analyzing value chains . Agricultural trade related issues such as value addition, value distribution, chain governance, supply chain management, and innovation and upgrading . Strategies for enhancing smallholders' access to markets including different types of social and commercial organization, such as associations, partnerships and outgrowing schemes . Gender, environment and poverty in the agriculture and agribusiness development . Institutional setting and enabling environment including the roles of civil society, private sector and the State; the importance of cultural dynamics; and characteristics of innovation systems . Financial instruments and investment mechanisms used in agribusiness By focusing on agricultural value chains analysis, the course will target students that want to obtain an understanding of the mechanisms regulating agribusiness in developing countries. The process will include mapping and characterizing agribusiness supply chains and networks, barriers to entry, chains governances and critical factors in the enabling environment. The course will be useful for professionals working in international agricultural development organizations, donor organizations, public agencies, national extension services, agribusiness development services, and private agribusiness enterprises. | |||||||||||||||
| Teaching and learning Methods | |||||||||||||||
| The course will include a combination of e-lectures, class lectures and discussions, guest lectures, individual and group exercises, student presentations. Student will be working in groups analysing a selected value chain case through a number of sub-assignments. Each student develops an individual written final report based on the sub-assignments. | |||||||||||||||
| Learning Outcome | |||||||||||||||
| After completing the course the students should be able to: Knowledge . Describe and define theoretical agribusiness related terminology . Refer theoretical streams of the value chain literature . Show overview of major value chain analysis approaches . Reflect on the complexity of institutional and management dynamics of the agricultural sector in developing countries . Describe the role of agriculture in economic development in developing countries Skills . Collect and process relevant information for analyzing agricultural value chains . Reason about the institutional and management dynamics in the agribusiness sector . Discuss policy and management tools for upgrading and developing agriculture and agribusiness . Communicate ideas for agricultural value chain development in developing countries to stakeholders Competencies . Analyze the economic importance of agriculture in a developing country economy . Apply relevant theories to analyze complex institutional and agribusiness systems . Apply the value chain analyses approaches to design upgrading interventions . Analyze and identify potential improvements of the institutional environment and innovation system for supporting agricultural value chains | |||||||||||||||
| Course Literature | |||||||||||||||
| To be announced | |||||||||||||||
| Course Coordinator | |||||||||||||||
| Carsten Nico Portefée Hjortsø, cnh@foi.ku.dk, Institute of Food and Resource Economics/Production and Technology Unit, Phone: 353-32267 | |||||||||||||||
| Study Board | |||||||||||||||
| Study Committee NSN | |||||||||||||||
| Work Load | |||||||||||||||
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