Strategic Management of Agricultural Firms, Markets and Marketing

Learning Objectives

• STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF THE FARM

  The main objective of the course is the study of business strategies related to production activities and decision-making processes of agricultural enterprises and related agri-food enterprises. In this context, the course aims to provide students with the main elements of business behaviour, strategic planning and medium/long-term planning. To understand the interrelationship between economy and business activities, the course revolves around the production and costs function and the function of determining the price of agricultural products. For the economic-managerial evaluation of business activities, the course focuses on the main short and medium/long-term tools, in particular, accounting and corporate balance sheets.

  At the end of the course the student, through a correct reading and interpretation of the main budget indexes, will acquire the necessary skills to draw up budget and final financial statements necessary for an efficient management of the agricultural enterprise as well as for access to various forms of financing.

• AGRI-FOOD MARKETING

  The student acquires the basic tools for the knowledge of the market for agricultural and food products in the context of economic systems developed, as well as the skills necessary to analyze development strategies and models of marketing in the competitive market.
  At the end of the course the student will be able to develop a business marketing plan, an indispensable tool for access to the financial resources available in the programming of European Funds.

Course Structure

• STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF THE FARM

  Frontal lessons and classroom exercises, as well as participation in any meeting and / or meetings.

  The course is structured in 56 hours of which 28 hours of lectures and 28 hours of exercises.

  If teaching is given in a mixed formula or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the provided and reported syllabus.

  Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.

  For any questions or clarifications, Gioacchino Pappalardo can be reached remotely or in presence on the days and in the manner reported on the web page: https://www.di3a.unict.it/docenti/gioacchino.pappalardo

  As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline. 
  It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs), in the persons of professors Giovanna Tropea Garzia and Anna De Angelis.

• AGRI-FOOD MARKETING

  Lectures, exercises, practical applications

  The course is structured in 56 hours of which 28 hours of lectures and 28 hours of exercises. The exercises consist of individual and group work and/or in-depth seminars.

  Tools to support teaching

  Blackboard, videoprojector, computer, internet access. All lessons are held with the help of presentations in ppt

  If teaching is given in a mixed formula or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the provided and reported syllabus.

  Learning assessment may be done remotely if necessary.

  As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline.

  It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs), in the persons of professors Giovanna Tropea Garzia and Anna De Angelis.

Detailed Course Content

• STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF THE FARM

  1. Farm, characteristics and structure.
  2. Accounting and Financial Statements: Company management.
  3. Enterprise income.
  4. Intermediate margins.
  5. Company capital.
  6. Cash Flow.
  7. Management Control.
  8. Management Areas.
  9. Profitability ratios (ROE, ROI and ROS).
  10. Economicity indices.
  11. Break Even Analysis.

• AGRI-FOOD MARKETING

  Agri-food Supply and Demand Analysis. Market Structure and Pricing. Models of Trade. Commercial Policy. Agriculture and Agri-food System in Domestic and International Trade. Characteristics of the Associate-Economic System. The Marketing. General Analysis of the Market. Informative System of Market. Strategic Marketing. Operational Marketing. Politics of the Distribution. Politics of the Price. Politics of Promotion. Politics of the Product. Marketing Plan.

Textbook Information

• STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF THE FARM

  Economia e Gestione dell’impresa dell’impresa agraria; Torquati B. Edagricole

• AGRI-FOOD MARKETING

  1. Messori F., Ferretti F. Economia del mercato agro-alimentare, 2010, EDAGRICOLE, Bologna.

  2. PAUL PETER J.,- JAMES H. DONNELLY jr: Marketing. McGraw-Hill, Milano.

  3. Publications distributed during the course

  4. Additional text for ERASMUS's students: Philip Kotler, Kevin Lane Keller. “Marketing Management, Global Edition”. Pearson Education Limited. EAN: 9781292092621.