Should You Do an MBA in Agribusiness?

Agribusiness might not be the most obvious career path you’d consider when undertaking an MBA. However, this sector has long been one of the most crucial and evergreen in economies across the world. Not only is food production essential in any functioning society, it also offers plenty of unique job roles, as well as the opportunity to advance your career in a lucrative field.

If you’re curious about learning more about this sector, here’s everything you need to know about an MBA in Agribusiness.

What is Agribusiness?

The Agribusiness sector incorporates a wide range of activities related to agricultural products such as livestock and crops. The industry is responsible for developing food – from sourcing to assembling materials – and distributing it across regions and countries.

Aside from farming, the Agribusiness sector also involves effective marketing of food, its production, and associated products. In a top-tier job, you might end up working in warehouse operations, wholesale and retail to ensure consumers want to purchase your product. It’s an intricate machine that requires expertise and a solid infrastructure.

What are some of the top Agribusiness careers?

One major advantage of working in Agribusiness is that you can work for enterprises of all sizes in the public and private sectors. While it might seem like a niche industry, it offers a plethora of career advancement opportunities, including executive positions and six-figure salaries.

Here are some of the most common top-tier jobs you could land with a specialization in this field:

• Agricultural Logistics Manager (average salary: US$109,953)
• Agricultural Marketing Manager (average salary: US$103,459)
• HR Manager (average salary: US$101,499)
• Accounting Manager (average salary: US$97,539)
• Agriculture Operations Manager (average salary: US$70,429)

How do I get into Agribusiness?

If you want to land a high paid job in the sector, your best bet is to do an MBA in Agribusiness. Not only will you develop knowledge of the field, but also the necessary business skills to manage different aspects of food production and distribution.

Aside from core MBA courses such as Leadership, Marketing and Strategies, Agribusiness MBAs offer a series of modules that help students develop industry-specific skills. These include:

• Agricultural Finance
• International Trade in Agricultural Products
• Risk Management in Agribusiness
• Data Analytics in Agribusiness
• Agricultural Development
• Management of Technology for Agriculture
• Agricultural and Food Policy
• Resource Allocation in Agribusiness
• Agricultural Law

What are the benefits of doing an MBA in Agribusiness?

Here are some of the benefits of specializing in Agribusiness:

• You can become an entrepreneur. You’ll know enough about food production and distribution that – if you wished to – you’ll have all the necessary tools to start your own business.
• You’ll always be needed in business. While some business trends come and go, food is always going to be a necessity. An MBA will ensure that your expertise never goes out of style.
• You can work with a wide range of companies. Agriculture and food companies span across industries and sectors. Whatever your interests may be, you’ll never be short of unique job opportunities.
• You can be innovative. The food industry is constantly evolving. If you have a flair for innovation and tech, with a top-tier job you’ll be able to implement cutting-edge strategies and make a long-lasting impact.

What are the top schools offering an MBA in Agribusiness?

Here are some of the top schools across the world offering an Agribusiness MBA.