Introduction to the MSc student course taking a systemic change perspective to the management of agricultural and food supply chains. Course established in collaboration between University of Parma and Dr. Domenico Dentoni, Associate Professor at Wageningen University.

1. Course in Agri-food Chain Management
Introduction
In collaboration with Wageningen University (The Netherlands)
Course Instructor:
Prof. Domenico Dentoni, Management Studies Group, Wageningen University
Principal Investigator, Global Center for Food Systems Innovation

2. Quiz
What are the world largest cheese
net exporting countries?

3. Quiz
Netherlands
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

4. Introduction
Why Italy is lagging behind versus
The Netherlands…on cheese exports?

5. Introduction
Organizing competitive, innovative
agri-food chains is a very complex activity!
Focal
company or
organization
Customers, customers
of customers
Suppliers, suppliers
of suppliers
LOW LEVELS
OF EDUCATION
MAFIA &
CORRUPTION
LAND, WATER,
ENERGY SCARCITY
UNINNOVATIVE
CULTURE
VIOLATION OF
LABOR RIGHTS
POOR ACCESS TO
TECHNOLOGY
POOR ACCESS TO
CREDIT
WASTE
MANAGEMENT &
POLLUTION
CRIME

6. Introduction
Example from Wageningen (The Netherlands)

7. Why this course?
What can Parma learn from the experience of
Wageningen, Stanford (US) or Zhejiang (China)?

8. Why this course?
Stimulate food entrepreneurship

9. Why this course?
Exploit innovation in food and
agriculture

10. Why this course?
Conjugate food, agriculture and
tourism…

11. Why this course?
Conjugate food, agriculture and
tourism…

12. Why this course?
Assess food sustainability strategies
Figure 4. The Double Pyramid. Source: [37].
Figure 5. The Water Pyramid. Source: [38].

13. Why this course?
Tackle the most wicked problems

14. Why this course?
Make the University at the core of a
food innovation hub

15. Why this course?
University internationalization

16. 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

17. Why this course?
How can YOU engage in activities that make this
CHANGE in or around food and agricultural chains?

18. Why this course?
How can YOU engage in activities that make this
CHANGE in or around food and agricultural chains?

19. 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

20. Two approaches to change
1. Managing ag-food chains and networks (Omta et al. 2002)

21. Two approaches to change
1. Managing ag-food chains and networks (Omta et al. 2002)

22. Two approaches to change
Focal
company or
organization
Customers, customers
of customers
Suppliers, suppliers
of suppliers
OBESITY
MAFIA &
CORRUPTION
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)

23. Two approaches to change
2. Changing the broader system where ag-food
chains are embedded (Dentoni et al. 2012; Senge et al. 2015)

24. Two approaches to change
2. Changing the broader system where ag-food
chains are embedded (Dentoni et al. 2012; Senge et al. 2015)

25. Course structure
What will we do in practice?
Two approaches
• Managing chains versus systemic change
Course activities and assessment
• Team and individual report
• Presentation & role play
Four main themes
• Problems; innovation; partnerships; organizational change.
Teaching methods

26. Course structure
What will we do in practice?
Two approaches
• Managing chains versus systemic change
Course activities and assessment
• Team and individual report
• Presentation & role play
Four main themes
• Problems; innovation; partnerships; learning & change.
Teaching methods

27. 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

28. Course structure
What will we do in practice?
Two approaches
• Managing chains versus systemic change
Course activities and assessment
• Team and individual report
• Presentation & role play
Four main themes
• Problems; innovation; partnerships; learning & change.
Teaching methods

29. Four main themes
PART I:
Understanding
problems
PROBLEMS IN OR
AROUND AGRI-
FOOD CHAINS
VISION: TACKLE
THE PROBLEMS
THROUGH A
SYSTEMIC CHANGE
PART II:
Social innovation &
entrepreneurship
PART III:
Building
partnerships
PART IV:
Continuous
learning & change

30. Four main themes & group-based report
PART I:
Understanding
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 &
entrepreneurship
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

31. Course structure
What will we do in practice?
Two approaches
• Managing chains versus systemic change
Course activities and assessment
• Team and individual report
• Presentation & role play
Four main themes
• Problems; innovation; partnerships; learning & change.
Teaching methods

32. 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 Friday
8h
14h
14-16h
18-20h
16-18h LECTURE
LECTURE
TUTORIAL TUTORIAL
TUTORIAL

33. 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

34. Empirical cases

35. 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 with
Lectures (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)

36. 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