MSU Grad Students Bring Home Silver in International Agribusiness Case Competition
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EmailA four-student team from the MSU Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics took 2nd place in the graduate Student Case Competition at the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association conference in Christchurch on June 22.
MSU graduate students brought home silver this summer from an international team competition in New Zealand, but it wasn’t soccer. A month before the Women’s World Cup, a four-student team from the MSU Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics (AFRE) took 2nd place in the graduate Student Case Competition at the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) conference in Christchurch on June 22.
Competing against ten other graduate student teams from around the world, the AFRE team presented a case study on how to evaluate the potential benefits and sustainability of a food value chain partnership in Honduras between Bayer, a multinational company, and a local non-governmental organization (NGO). A panel of judges evaluated them on the quality of the ideas and solutions presented, along with the presentation itself.
The AFRE team first analyzed the feasibility and potential outcomes of the partnership from Bayer’s perspective. They considered profitability, sustainability, and the alignment of vision and values between Bayer and the NGO. Next, they were tasked with developing an objective and efficient method to analyze future food value chain partnerships. Their prescription called for considering financial viability, risk assessment, and compatibility between organizations.
The AFRE team included graduate students Ashish Pokharel, Fernanda Alfaro-Gonzalez, Hanna Carlson, and Saesol Kang. They were coached by AFRE Associate Professor Brent Ross, who is also a member of the IFAMA Board of Directors and regional editor of the International Food and Agribusiness Management Review.
Speaking for the team, Alfaro-Gonzalez explained, “We all needed to be creative to address the problems that were presented in the case studies. We needed to be analytical and methodical in terms of our approach to evaluating criteria to come to a decision on behalf of the company. Our communication skills were also important as we needed to prepare and present solutions to real-world issues faced by businesses.”
Alfaro-Gonzalez continued, “The case study presented by the AFRE graduate students shed light on the complexities of partnership decisions and the importance of finding the right fit in terms of shared vision and values. It served as a valuable reminder that successful collaborations require thoughtful consideration and systematic evaluation to ensure long-term sustainability and mutual benefit.”
AFRE graduate students have a strong track record in agribusiness case study competitions. Since 2015, AFRE graduate students have placed 1st in the competition three times, 2nd twice, and 3rd once.
