MSc in Agricultural and Food Economics

Università Cattolica's Cremona campus boasts one of the world’s most renowned teams of Agriculture academics, scientists, and researchers; a team at the forefront of food innovation and technology whose expertise extends to developing tracking systems for any product transported across the European Union. Joining the degree in Agricultural and Food Economics is to prepare for the world’s fastest-growing industry in a beautiful city in the heart of the Italian food valley.

The degree is taught by SMEA, the Graduate School in Agricultural and Food Economics. It has a long experience in research concerning agricultural economics and policy, the industrial organization of the food sector, and the analysis of the functioning of the food supply chain. This experience relates to academic research and to support policy-makers since the team's researchers have developed a long collaboration experience with international organizations (i.e., European Commission, OECD, FAO, and World Bank), government agencies, and producer associations.

The program will prepare students to analyze the agri-food system and to operate in the various functional areas of businesses and organizations. The program will develop professional knowledge and skills with regard to:

• Analyzing traditional problems relating to agricultural markets and food, evaluating the implications of agri-food and commercial policies
• Managing the liberalization processes and rules of free competition also within an international context
• Analyzing the behavior of final consumers with respect to agricultural and food products
• Understanding the different sectors of the agri-food system, the vertical relations, and the coordination of the various phases of the system (e.g. agriculture, food processing, and food retailing)
• Managing emerging issues in agricultural and food production, including the safety of foodstuffs and the environmental impact of agricultural activities, the role of quality, information, and traceability, the management of technical innovations, in particular biotechnology, and of the industrialization of agriculture
• Dealing with corporate and logistical problems that affect business functions according to the peculiarities of agribusiness companies.