WCC72: Agribusiness Research Emphasizing Competitiveness
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
WCC72: Agribusiness Research Emphasizing Competitiveness
Duration: 10/01/1999 to 09/30/2004
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
issue
"Agribusiness is a term used to describe all operations involved in the manufacture and distribution of farm supplies; production operations on the farm; and the storage, processing, and distribution of food products to the final consumer. The United States agribusiness sector continues to undergo significant structural change. Changing patterns in food consumption are forcing food manufacturers and commodity processors to place greater emphasis on consumer preferences and product differentiation. Advances in information and production technologies are improving efficiencies and providing firms with the means to better meet the needs of final consumers. Changes are also occurring because of the industrialization of agriculture, which ties production and marketing systems together through contractual arrangements, vertical integration, or strategic alliances.
For many years, agricultural economists have provided valuable information that seeks, among other things, to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. production agriculture. More recently, agricultural economics research and teaching programs have been broadened to include pre-farm and/or post-farm sectors of the agro-food system. Production agriculture is increasingly tied to non-farm agribusinesses, thus emphasizing the need for continued research and education programs targeted at pre- and post- farm operations. The WCC-72 Coordinating Committee has played an important role in the evolution and success of these programs by promoting and facilitating research and educational workshops in the following areas: agribusiness competitiveness; strategic management; industrial organization; international trade; evaluation of business performance and managing innovation, change, and risk; analysis of consumer preferences; industrialization of agriculture; transportation and logistics; and supply chain management
Competitiveness, as the term infers, is the ability to effectively serve the marketplace. The drive for competitiveness requires the continuous evolution of all activities relating to the sale of products by agribusinesses, including strategies relating to selling prices and efforts to improve quality and service. Competitiveness is particularly useful as a unifying theme for the group's research because it ties together other important agribusiness research areas, supports state economic development initiatives, generates useful public policy implications, and provides a knowledge base for graduate and undergraduate courses.
WCC-72 activities have enhanced agribusiness competitiveness in several ways. Factors and barriers to food system and agribusiness competitiveness have been identified and defined so as to facilitate collaboration among WCC-72 members. The exploration and development of new research methods for measuring and analyzing food system and agribusiness competitiveness is enhanced through the dialogue that takes place at our annual meeting. Management strategies for improving food system and agribusiness competitiveness are also presented and discussed with industry participants. In particular, management strategies can be especially important in helping small food processors understand the competitive forces being shaped in part by the large, dominant agribusiness firms. Finally, teaching and extension programs are enhanced and updated through the exchange of ideas and information at our annual meeting. This area of work is highly important to agricultural businesses in the Western Region, elsewhere in the U.S., and Canada."
Objectives
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Coordinate research, extension, and teaching objectives of agribusiness researchers and educators by drawing on the expertise of academic and industry professionals in the agro-food system.
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Maintain and develop electronic communication methods that facilitate the exchange and dissemination of information among industry, government, and academia in the agro-food system.
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Promote investigation and development of research methodologies and analytical techniques and their application to issues related to agribusiness management.
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In designated and appropriate forums, share research findings related to agribusinesses that will enhance the competitiveness of the U.S. agro-food system.
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Procedures and Activities
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
- outcomes "5. Continued promotion of collaborative research projects among participating faculty that result in the publication of joint research papers. 6. Expansion of the WCC-72 Home Page on the Internet for agribusiness research and education. 7. As part of an annual forum, hold sessions about current research topics and methodologies. Likely topics include: 1) state efforts on developing value-added industries, 2) case study methodologies and research cases, 3) studies on genetically modified organisms, 4) global ties to other researchers and educators in agribusiness, and 5) innovative agribusiness companies. 8. Presentation and discussion of research findings about topics related to agribusiness management and competitiveness. Special emphasis will be made on presentations related to collaborative research. Poster sessions will be held for researchers to report on early phases of a particular project. The purpose of these sessions is to encourage interaction among committee participants so changes can be made to a research project before final results are obtained, rather than after the project is complete. A listing of completed and ongoing research will also be posted on the Internet Home Page."
Projected Participation
View Appendix E: ParticipationEducational Plan
ed_plan
During the annual meeting, WCC-72 will hold sessions on the following topics: 1) integrating agribusiness curriculums into traditional agricultural economics curriculums, 2) involvement of agribusiness firms in teaching, research and extension, 3) state extension programs in agribusiness management, and 4) agribusiness masters and Ph. D. program labor market issues. Results of these sessions are disseminated through published proceedings, which are made available on the WCC-72 web page.
Organization/Governance
governance
WCC-72 hosts an annual meeting, typically in late June. The meeting includes presentations about completed research, poster session discussions about ongoing and new research, and teaching and extension issues. The committee officers include a chair, a vice-chair, and a secretary.
Literature Cited