Management Economics and Marketing of Food Products

The course aims to provide students with the basic principles and methodologies for the economic management of agro-livestock companies through the knowledge of the relationship between the company system and the reference environment. It is intended to provide the tools to analyse the elements of organisation, decision-making processes, business strategy and investment choices and the economic characteristics of the main supply chains that make up the livestock system.
The marketing part of the course aims to transfer to the students the key concepts related to the construction of the relationship of the livestock enterprise with its market. In particular, the aim is to reflect on the methods of market analysis and strategic marketing in a hyper-competitive context of the food world like the present one.
The main operational marketing decisions of the enterprise will then be addressed, with particular reference to the distribution, price, consumption and communication of animal products.

Knowledge and understanding: at the end of the course, the student will have acquired a framework of reference on the most important tools for analyzing the structure and organization of the company, as well as on the peculiarities of the livestock production system broken down into its main supply chains. In particular, the student will have acquired the knowledge to analyze: the relationships between companies and institutions that make up the agri-food system; company management with the typical tools for business management and financial analysis; the evolution of consumer habits and related purchasing behavior; market positioning strategies for products of animal origin; the importance of technological development in product innovation.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: at the end of the course, the student will be able to interpret decision-making processes, company strategies and investment choices, evaluate the trend of economic performance through reading and understanding the financial statements drawn up according to community regulations and analyze the economic characteristics of the main supply chains that make up the livestock system. The student will be able to develop a marketing strategy for the valorization of animal products, also through product innovations.
Critical and judgment skills: the student will be able to critically and proactively approach the study of the subject, using the material and tools provided in class and during the exercises to independently judge the most important elements that constitute the company's economic flow, the animal supply chains, the relationship between the company and the market and the marketing strategies for the valorization of the products.
Ability to communicate what has been learned: the student must be able to express and deal with the notions learned with an adequate language and terminology, updated and well integrated with the other disciplines. This ability will be acquired and verified during collegial discussions in the classroom and practical exercises.
Lifelong learning skills: the student must have developed skills and strategies for their professional updating, in particular in the areas of fastest evolution in the animal production sector.