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Undergraduate Agribusiness Programs: Focus or Falter?
Author(s) -
Boland Michael A.,
Akridge Jay T.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
applied economic perspectives and policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.4
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 2040-5804
pISSN - 2040-5790
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9353.2004.00200.x
Subject(s) - agribusiness , focus (optics) , marketing , business , regional science , agriculture , geography , physics , optics , archaeology
Agribusiness has become an important part of undergraduate agricultural economics programs. Will these programs continue to serve the needs of both industry and students in the future? To survive and thrive, agribusiness programs must pursue an aggressive niche strategy. Programs must be more than collections of courses, they must be coordinated, integrated experiences that foster critical thinking and communications skills, develop industry‐specific knowledge, and cultivate diversity of thought. The agricultural economics heritage of most programs can be used as a point of difference. Programs must pursue partnerships with industry and other academic programs. Faculty development must be a priority.