Agribusiness Seminar

Since its inaugural session in 1961, the Agribusiness Seminar at Harvard Business School (HBS) has provided leaders from across the industry with a unique forum for assessing emerging trends and issues, understanding best management practices, and exploring promising new business strategies. In January 2013, top executives will convene at HBS once again to set the stage for growth in a complex landscape, improve the way they manage risk, identify today’s top opportunities, and prepare for the future.

What You Can Expect

This premier event helps you enhance your leadership capacity and effectiveness in an industry marked by increased opportunity and growing complexity. Learning alongside peers from every sector of the industry, you will gain a full-chain, cross-industry perspective. New agribusiness-specific cases will provide insight into current trends across the global marketplace as well as political and economic challenges around the world. Returning to your organization, you will be better equipped to respond to market shifts and develop winning long-range strategies.

Your Course of Study

This leadership development program combines a structured learning environment with the opportunity to share ideas with peers from around the globe and, in turn, improve your ability to make decisions and lead your organization. Over four days, you will step back from day-to-day responsibilities to explore topics ranging from sustainability to global competitive strategies to innovation. You will acquire the frameworks and skills to drive immediate and future success.

Who Is Right for the Program

Participants will include thought leaders and key decision-makers in the global food and agribusiness industry.

What You Can Expect

For more than 50 years, the renowned HBS Agribusiness Seminar has explored the business, economic, political, environmental, and societal issues that impact the agribusiness industry, providing executives with new knowledge and an essential full-chain, cross-industry, global perspective.

This premier forum brings together senior decision-makers from every type of industry organization—including producers, manufacturers, marketers, retailers, policymakers, and service providers. Recognized for its dynamic, thought-provoking classroom discussions, the seminar is enriched by the participation of top executives from many of the companies featured in the diverse set of cases. Because the industry is constantly changing, the curriculum is refreshed each year with a set of new cases that spotlights the most current innovations and challenges. Because of this, many participants attend yearly to explore the latest trends and to network with other industry leaders.

Improving Your Organization's Performance

Taking a forward-looking approach to agribusiness industry trends, this HBS Executive Education program will help your company make the right moves in a complex, volatile business environment. Providing relevant lessons in the classroom that yield a broad view of the global food and agribusiness system, the program will help your company to:

• Succeed in an increasingly competitive and global agribusiness landscape
• Improve its ability to respond to market change
• Create a global footprint by expanding more effectively into new countries and regions
• Create new organizational structures that strengthen market position
• Build strong alliances—both across business functions and with other companies
• Influence the future of the industry by contributing to discussions among top players

Taking Your Skills to the Next Level

World-renowned HBS faculty will lead you and an accomplished group of global peers in an exploration of the vital chain that brings food, feed, fiber, and fuel from the farm to the consumer. This program will help you to:

• Lead your company more strategically through insight into industry dynamics
• Understand emerging issues that could change how you do business
• Identify opportunities for growth in both domestic and international markets
• Balance short-range strategies and long-term goals in the context of overarching industry trends
• Drive innovation and change in your organization to address an evolving customer base, rising competitors, and emerging opportunities
• Explore how other companies are successfully implementing best practices and new strategies for growth
• Strengthen your network by making new connections with peers from across the agribusiness industry

"This program provided an excellent overview of the key strategic issues facing global agribusiness. Through the highly relevant case studies, I acquired an in-depth, practical understanding of how companies manage key issues. Interacting with the key companies and case protagonists added valuable insight and raised my awareness of what actions are essential in my own business."
Ian Glasson [Chief Executive Officer], CSR Sugar, CSR Ltd., Australia

Your Course of Study

Responding to Geographic Market Evolution

• Understanding how the center of agribusiness is moving and how to prepare your company for change
• Moving successfully from the position of a regional player to that of a global leader
• Shifting strategies in response to new global and local competitors
• Preparing for price changes and other challenges that arise as demand moves geographically
• Exploring new opportunities for acquisition and partnership in different regions
• Building a management team with the skills needed for a changing market
• Examining the impact of changing trade policies around the world

Expanding the Food Supply

• Responding to increasing demand for food and fuel
• Reducing waste at all steps in the food supply system—from production to retail
• Focusing strategies on long-term sustainability and supply security
• Using low-tech methods to meet demand—from aquaculture to grass-based biofuel

Building a Customer-Focused Supply Chain

• Aligning a supply chain with a brand promise
• Incorporating customer-centered improvements throughout the supply chain
• Addressing the consumer trend for healthy eating, food safety, and sustainability—while maintaining your profit margin
• Strengthening collaboration within a supply chain
• Developing innovative strategies to address gaps in the supply chain

• ABF (UK)
• Brasil Foods (Brazil)
• Domino's (USA)
• Feed America Now–FAN (USA)
• Fonterra (New Zealand)
• HEB (USA)
• Jain Irrigation (India)
• K&N's (Pakistan)
• Marine Harvest (Norway)
• Sykue (Brazil)

"To my knowledge, this is the only high-level agribusiness seminar worldwide. It has broadened my vision on global food supply development, has inspired my thinking on agribusiness matters within my company, and has been a building block in my struggle to find balance between operations and strategy."
Philip Smits [Chief Executive Officer], The Greenery B.V., The Netherlands

Who Is Right for the Program

The Agribusiness Seminar brings together senior industry executives who are thought leaders and key decision makers. Their diverse backgrounds and geographic bases enrich the learning process through the exchange of varied industry perspectives and experiences. The seminar attracts leaders across a range of organizations, including:

• Producers, processors, and distributors of agricultural and food products
• Marketers of fresh and packaged foods, convenience meals, and snacks
• Major grocery chains, specialty food retailers, and foodservice providers
• Manufacturers and distributors of agricultural supplies and farm equipment
• Financial services firms that directly serve the agribusiness industry
• Governmental agencies and educational institutions that further agribusiness for the public good
• Biotech companies shaping the future of global food, pharmaceutical, and energy sectors

Past Participants Represented:

Sales Volume			Nationalities
11%		$0–29.9 million	14%		Asia/Pacific
7%		$30–99.9 million	20%		Europe
11%		$100-499.9 million	10%		Latin America
8%		$500-999.99 million	56%		North America
12%		$1-2.5 billion
9%		$2.5-5 billion
9%		$5-9.9 billion
33%		$10 billion +

Participating Companies Have Included:

Associated British Foods plc Banco de México-FIRA Barilla Holding S.p.A. Berrymex, S.A. de C.V. Bongrain SA British Sugar plc Bunge, Ltd. Cargill, Inc. COFCO Limited ConAgra Foods, Inc. ContiGroup Companies, Inc. DaChan Food (Asia) Limited Diamond Foods Dupont Eli Lilly and Company European Bank for Reconstruction and Development   (EBRD) Food and Agriculture   Organization of the United   Nations (FAO) Fonterra Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Governments of the United   States, Brazil, Canada, France,   Hungary, etc.

Hormel Foods Corporation JBS International, Inc. The J.M. Smucker Company Malaysian Agrifood Corporation   Berhad Marks and Spencer Plc McDonald's Mitsui & Co., Inc. Monsanto Company Nestlé S.A. Nutreco Holding N.V. Olam International Pepsico, Inc. Rabobank Group Royal Ahold Syngenta Corporation Tyson Foods, Inc. Unilever Viterra Walmart Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. The World Bank Group

"What was promised was delivered. Steeped in the latest views on agribusiness, I explored relevant case studies on biofuels, food scarcity, and food security. The sharing of ideas with 200 senior managers from all continents triggered me to think more broadly about the industry. With a wider worldview, I am more self-assured about making decisions. That's why I highly recommended the seminar to our senior managers."
Simone Hertzberger [Vice President, Quality Assurance and Product Integrity], Royal Ahold/Albert Heijn, The Netherlands

Meet the Program Faculty

Like all Harvard Business School Executive Education programs, the Agribusiness Seminar is developed and taught by a core faculty of HBS professors. Our faculty are widely recognized for being skilled educators, groundbreaking researchers, and award-winning authors.

Through publishing, consulting, and teaching, they leverage their business expertise and field-based research to create new knowledge and enduring concepts that shape the practice of management. The result is a teaching team that exposes participants to multiple perspectives, challenging their thinking and encouraging new practices that result in superior business leadership.

"The Agribusiness Seminar provides a wonderful opportunity to rethink the day-to-day way of doing business. From the faculty and my peers, I learned about different viewpoints in the value chain and new strategies for approaching issues. As a result, I can better meet my customers' needs. The relationships that I formed have been invaluable professionally and personally."
Vonnie Estes [New Venture Manager, Biofuels], DuPont Biofuels, U.S.

Admissions

Because a diverse participant mix is an important part of every HBS Executive Education program, we look for candidates who reflect a broad range of industries, functions, countries, and backgrounds to enrich the learning experience.

Fees, Payments, and Cancellations

The program fee covers tuition, books, case materials, accommodations, and most meals.

No payment is necessary until you have been accepted into an HBS Executive Education program. After admission notification, we will send you an invoice via email; payment is due within 30 days of the invoice date. If admission is within 30 days prior to the start of the program, payment is due upon receipt of the invoice. Payment is required prior to the program start date. We accept payment by company check, bank wire transfer, or credit card (American Express, MasterCard, Visa). Details are included on the program invoice.

If you need to cancel or defer participation, you must submit your request in writing more than 30 days before the start of the program to receive a full refund. Due to program demand and the volume of preprogram preparation, cancellations or deferrals received 14 to 30 days prior to the start of the program are subject to a fee of one-half of the program fee. Requests received within 14 days are subject to full payment.

Requirements

Although there are no formal educational requirements, admission is a selective process based on professional achievement and organizational responsibility. We look for professionals who have demonstrated business talent and leadership potential.

HBS Executive Education programs enrich both participants and their sponsoring organizations, and require full commitment from each party. While participants devote time and intellect to the learning experience, sponsoring organizations agree to relieve individuals of their work responsibilities during the program.

Language Proficiency

We deliberately design our programs to encourage individual growth and to foster productive interaction among participants. For that reason, proficiency in written and spoken English is essential. If English is your second language, or if you have less than one year's experience working in an English-speaking environment, HBS requires a brief statement documenting proficiency in English-language skills, both conversational and written. This may include a list of the English-language certification programs that you have completed; the degrees you have earned at English-speaking colleges and universities; or the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam. The Admissions Committee also may request a telephone interview.

Application Process

Program participants must be nominated and sponsored by their current employer. HBS must receive your application and all required documents in order to prepare the application for review by the Admissions Committee.

To apply, you may use our online form or download an application. You also may request a brochure by mail.

If you submit your application online, we will promptly acknowledge receipt of your submission via email. In the unlikely event that an email acknowledgment is not received, please contact the Admissions Committee by email: exed_admissions@hbs.edu, phone: +1-617-495-6226, or fax: +1-617-496-1731.

If you choose to submit a printed application, be sure to type or print legibly and sign your application. Send the application to the address or fax number listed on the form. Mailed or faxed applications are processed and acknowledged promptly upon receipt via email.

Complete Your Application

Please answer all questions thoroughly—the Admissions Committee will only consider completed applications. After reviewing your application and making the necessary edits or corrections, print or copy the application for your records.

Meet the Deadlines

We request applications at least four weeks in advance of the program start date. Early application does not guarantee admission. Programs often fill to capacity, so early application is recommended.

Notification of Acceptance

We acknowledge receipt of all applications and maintain all application information in strict confidentiality.

To optimize the learning experience and maximize the exchange of ideas, the Admissions Committee selects a class that balances each participant's experience, the scope of his or her current responsibilities, and the type of organization.

The Admissions Committee begins reviewing applications four months before the start date, and qualified candidates are admitted on a rolling, space-available basis. Once the review process has begun, applicants are notified within three weeks via email regarding Admissions Committee decisions. If your application is received within three weeks of the program's start date, the Admissions Committee will notify you of their decision as soon as possible.

Need help?

For further assistance, contact our client service specialists at: 1-800-427-5577 (outside the U.S., dial +1-617-495-6555).

 

The Evolution of an Industry and a Seminar

The "agribusiness" concept was developed in the 1950s by Ray A. Goldberg, a founding father of the field and the George M. Moffett Professor of Agriculture and Business, Emeritus, at Harvard Business School. The idea for an agribusiness seminar for senior executives soon grew out of the School's elective MBA course in agribusiness management, which was based on a conceptual framework that Goldberg codeveloped with John H. Davis, the former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Agriculture. The seminar's development also was precipitated by other research conducted by Goldberg and Professor Wassily Leontief.

From its beginning more than 50 years ago, the Agribusiness Seminar has been ahead of its time. Several unique factors have contributed to the program's futuristic orientation—a dedicated focus on global and domestic trends; the involvement of change makers in case development; the perception that this thriving market system is also a political, societal, and economic developmental system; and representation from all participants of the value-added system, as well as from consumer groups and governmental leaders. For example, a case study on Amul Dairy in India became a model for farmers' cooperatives around the world; and Dr. J. Craig Venter, cofounder of Celera Genomics, which first mapped the human genome, was a guest for two consecutive years. In addition, leaders from the USDA, FDA, and EPA often have been present, and the program has attracted virtually every U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from the Eisenhower through the Bush administrations.

In essence, this HBS seminar has helped to create a growing profession. While "agribusiness" once was not even a word, more than 100 agribusiness programs currently are offered around the globe. Today, the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA), created in 1990, has over 950 members in more than 50 countries. HBS Agribusiness Program Director Mary Shelman is the current president-elect of IFAMA.

With much to learn in this advancing field, new materials are created for each course offering to reflect ongoing changes, and many individuals participate in the program year after year. The Agribusiness Seminar will continue to build on its impressive legacy to educate global leaders for years to come. As David E. Bell, the program faculty chair, observes, "With innovation at the heart of every successful agribusiness initiative, proactive leadership has become a mandate for organizations today. In the School's ongoing effort to develop knowledgeable, forward-thinking industry leaders, it is critical that our case studies focus on the latest trends, key challenges, and innovative strategies impacting agribusiness worldwide."

"The Agribusiness Seminar was an invaluable learning experience for me. The group discussions, in particular, allowed me to exchange challenging viewpoints with executives in different businesses, from different parts of the world. Through the case studies, I gained the insights, skills, and confidence to make key recommendations to my company."
Luis J. Bakker, Jr. [Chief Executive Officer], Pronaca, Ecuador