Domenico Dentoni: Introduction to Agri-Food Chain Management, University of Parma

Course in Agri-food Chain ManagementIntroductionIn collaboration with Wageningen University (The Netherlands)

Course Instructor: Prof. Domenico Dentoni, Management Studies Group, Wageningen University Principal Investigator,

Global Center for Food Systems Innovation

Quiz

What are the world largest cheese net

exporting countries?

QuizNetherlands

France

New Zealand

Denmark

Italy

Belarus

Ireland

Poland

Switzerland

Australia

$2.2 billion

$1.9 billion

$1.1 billion

$1.1 billion

$729.6 million

$596.9 million

$561.7 million

$369.1 million

$237.5 million

$215 million

Introduction

Why Italy is lagging behind versus The Netherlands…on cheese

exports?

Introduction

Organizing competitive, innovative agri-food chains is a very

complex activity!

Focal company

or organizatio

n

Customers, customers of customers

Suppliers, suppliers of suppliers

Civil society organizations

Regulatory institutions

LOW LEVELSOF EDUCATION

MAFIA & CORRUPTIO

N

LAND, WATER, ENERGY

SCARCITY

UNINNOVATIVE CULTURE

VIOLATION OF LABOR RIGHTS

POOR ACCESS TO

TECHNOLOGY

POOR ACCESS TO CREDIT

WASTE MANAGEMENT & POLLUTION

CRIME

Introduction

Example from Wageningen (The Netherlands)

Why this course?

What can Parma learn from the experience of Wageningen, Stanford

(US) or Zhejiang (China)?

Why this course?

Stimulate food entrepreneurship

Why this course?

Exploit innovation in food and agriculture

Why this course?

Conjugate food, agriculture and tourism…

Why this course?

Conjugate food, agriculture and tourism…

Why this course?

Assess food sustainability strategies

Why this course?

Tackle the most wicked problems

Why this course?

Make the University at the core of a food innovation

hub

Why this course?

University internationalization

Why this course?

How can agri-food chains re-use waste

into food or agricultural inputs?

How can large companies make their agri-food

chains environmentally

sustainable?

How can small enterprises be innovative and

profitable at the same time?

How can farmers and their associations get the product quality fairly recognized?

How can agriculture exploit the potential of our culture or of information technology?

How can YOU find/create a challenging job in food and agriculture after your Master?

How can universities build effective

innovation platforms with companies and

farmers?

How can reduce the plagues of mafia and corruption affecting

agri-food chains?

This course will address “HOW” questions to make necessary CHANGE in our agri-

food chains

Why this course?

How can YOU engage in activities that make this CHANGE in or around food and

agricultural chains?

Why this course?

How can YOU engage in activities that make this CHANGE in or around food and

agricultural chains?

Two approaches to change

How can we address these questions?

Two main approaches to CHANGE:

1. Managing ag-food chains and networks

2. Changing the broader system where ag-food chains are embedded

Two approaches to change

1. Managing ag-food chains and networks (Omta et al. 2002)

Two approaches to change

1. Managing ag-food chains and networks (Omta et al. 2002)

Two approaches to change

Focal company

or organizatio

n

Customers, customers of customers

Suppliers, suppliers of suppliers

Civil society organizations

Regulatory institutions

OBESITY

MAFIA & CORRUPTIO

N

LAND, WATER, ENERGY

SCARCITY

POVERTY

VIOLATION OF LABOR RIGHTS

POOR ACCESS TO

TECHNOLOGY

POOR ACCESS TO CREDIT

WASTE MANAGEMENT & POLLUTION

CRIME

2. Changing the broader system where ag-food chains are embedded

(Dentoni et al. 2012; Senge et al. 2015)

Two approaches to change

2. Changing the broader system where ag-food chains are embedded

(Dentoni et al. 2012; Senge et al. 2015)

Two approaches to change

2. Changing the broader system where ag-food chains are embedded

(Dentoni et al. 2012; Senge et al. 2015)

Course structure

What will we do in practice?Two approaches• Managing chains versus systemic changeCourse activities and assessment• Team and individual report• Presentation & role playFour main themes• Problems; innovation; partnerships;

organizational change.Teaching methods

Course structure

What will we do in practice?Two approaches• Managing chains versus systemic changeCourse activities and assessment• Team and individual report• Presentation & role playFour main themes• Problems; innovation; partnerships; learning &

change.Teaching methods

Activities and assessment

1. Group-based report. 40% of the grade. DEADLINE: December 6th

2. Group-based presentation. 20% of the grade. WHEN: December 1st

3. Role play. 10% of the grade. WHEN: December 1st

4. Individual, short essay. 30% of the grade. DEADLINE: December 9th

There will be no (oral or written) exam! See all the details on the course syllabus online here

Course structure

What will we do in practice?Two approaches• Managing chains versus systemic changeCourse activities and assessment• Team and individual report• Presentation & role playFour main themes• Problems; innovation; partnerships;

learning & change.Teaching methods

Four main themes

PART I: Understandi

ng problems

PROBLEMS IN OR AROUND AGRI-FOOD CHAINS

VISION: TACKLE THE PROBLEMS

THROUGH A SYSTEMIC CHANGE

PART II: Social

innovation & entrepreneurs

hip

PART III: Building

partnerships

PART IV: Continuous learning &

change

Four main themes & group-based report

PART I: Understandi

ng problems

PICK A PROBLEM THAT YOU WANT

TO ADDRESS

VISION: IMAGINE YOUR DESIRED FUTURE IN A

PERIOD BETWEEN 2020

and 2050

PART II: Social

innovation & entrepreneurs

hip

PART III: Building

partnerships

PART IV: Continuous learning &

change

I. Describe the nature of the

problem & map its causes and

effects

II. Explain the change intervention that you propose to do (a new company, non-profit

association, movement; or a new initiative within an

existing organization), why, how and when

III. Discuss which partnerships you

would build to tackle the problems

collaboratively

IV. Propose how you will keep yourself and your organization open to continuous learning

and adaptation

Course structure

What will we do in practice?Two approaches• Managing chains versus systemic changeCourse activities and assessment• Team and individual report• Presentation & role playFour main themes• Problems; innovation; partnerships; learning &

change.Teaching methods

Weekly schedule

How will activities will be distributed along your week (this Wednesday AND from November 1st to December

9th)?

See all the details on the course syllabus online here

Monday Tuesday Wednesday

Thursday

Friday8h

14h

14-16h

18-20h

16-18h LECTURE

LECTURE

TUTORIAL

TUTORIAL

TUTORIAL

Teaching Methods

Empirical cases(Guest lectures + readings + your

report)

Theories(Readings +

lectures)

Mapping methods(tutorials + your

report)

Course goal:Analyze, predict and

participate to processes of change in agri-food

chains

Empirical cases

Course calendar

How will activities and deadlines will be distributed along the course?

See all the details on the course syllabus online here

September

October November

December

Course introduction (on September 19th);

Lectures 1 & 2;Tutorial, formation of groups and case

selection Individual study of assigned readings. Get acquainted with theory & methods

prior to the lectures and tutorials in

November!

Intensive month of activities: 10

hours/week withLectures (from 3 to

10);Tutorials, guest

lectures and supervised group

work;Close interaction with

instructor in preparation for deliverables in

December

Final deadlines & assessment:

Final presentations and role play

(December 1st); Group report

(December 6th);Individual short essay

(December 9th)

Thank you and enjoy the course

Feel free to contact:

Prof. Domenico Dentoni, Management Studies, Wageningen University

domenico.dentoni@wur.nl| Website | Google Scholar

See all the details on the course syllabus online here