Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Working Knowledge
Business Research for Business Leaders
  • Browse All Articles
  • Popular Articles
  • Cold Call Podcasts
  • About Us
  • Leadership
  • Marketing
  • Finance
  • Management
  • Entrepreneurship
  • All Topics...
  • Topics
    • COVID-19
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Finance
    • Gender
    • Globalization
    • Leadership
    • Management
    • Negotiation
    • Social Enterprise
    • Strategy
  • Sections
    • Book
    • Cold Call Podcast
    • HBS Case
    • In Practice
    • Lessons from the Classroom
    • Op-Ed
    • Research & Ideas
    • Research Event
    • Sharpening Your Skills
    • What Do You Think?
    • Working Paper Summaries
  • Browse All
    • COVID-19 Business Impact Center
      COVID-19 Business Impact Center
      Business Summit: The Evolution of Agribusiness
      19 Jun 2009Research Event

      Business Summit: The Evolution of Agribusiness

      Agribusiness has come to be seen not just as economically important, but as a critical part of society. The future for this massive industry will be both exciting and complex.
      LinkedIn
      Email

      Editor's Note: This is a summary of an HBS Business Summit presentation. View a full summary and video of the event on the HBS Centennial Web site linked below.

      Date of Event: October 13, 2008
      Moderator: David E. Bell, HBS faculty
      Speakers: Ray Goldberg, HBS faculty, Emeritus
      Frank Ning, Chairman, COFCO Ltd.
      Alberto Weisser, CEO and Chairman of the Board, Bunge Limited

      Professor Bell moderated a discussion of agribusiness past, present, and future. Professor Goldberg shared his perspective on the inception of the field of agribusiness and its evolution; the other panelists discussed present and future challenges based on their unique vantage points.

      Through the study of agribusiness at Harvard Business School, the notion of the value-added food chain was born. Both the study and practice of agribusiness have evolved significantly over the decades. During that time, agribusiness has come to be seen not just as economically important, but as a critical part of society. Agribusiness touches on health, nutrition, safety, science, and government. One particular step in the evolutionary process is a transformation that occurred in the past decade. Some industry players have gone from being low-margin commodity producers to higher-margin providers of "solutions."

      The future for this massive industry will be both exciting and complex. To feed the world, production must double by 2050, while dealing with political issues, water constraints, price volatility, and the need for more sustainable practices. But, due to more efficient operating practices, new technologies, and increased levels of partnership and collaboration across the supply chain, the future for the industry is very attractive.

          Trending
            • 19 Jan 2021
            • In Practice

            Leadership Advice for Biden: Restore a Sense of Calm

            • 29 Oct 2020
            • Research & Ideas

            The COVID Gender Gap: Why Fewer Women Are Dying

            • 13 Jul 2020
            • Research & Ideas

            Merck CEO Ken Frazier Discusses a COVID Cure, Racism, and Why Leaders Need to Walk the Talk

            • 18 Jan 2021
            • Book

            How Thinking Like a Startup Helps Governments Solve More Problems

            • 25 Feb 2019
            • Research & Ideas

            How Gender Stereotypes Kill a Woman’s Self-Confidence

        David E. Bell
        David E. Bell
        Baker Foundation Professor, George M. Moffett Professor of Agriculture and Business, Emeritus
        Contact
        Send an email
        → More Articles
        Ray A. Goldberg
        Ray A. Goldberg
        George M. Moffett Professor of Agriculture and Business, Emeritus
        Contact
        Send an email
        → More Articles
        Find Related Articles
        • Agribusiness
        • Energy
        • Environmental Sustainability
        • Science
        • Agriculture and Agribusiness
        • Africa
        • Asia
        • Latin America
        • South America
        • North & Central America
        • United States

        Sign up for our weekly newsletter

        Interested in improving your business? Learn about fresh research and ideas from Harvard Business School faculty.
        ǁ
        Campus Map
        Harvard Business School Working Knowledge
        Baker Library | Bloomberg Center
        Soldiers Field
        Boston, MA 02163
        Email: Editor-in-Chief
        →Map & Directions
        →More Contact Information
        • Make a Gift
        • Site Map
        • Jobs
        • Harvard University
        • Trademarks
        • Policies
        • Digital Accessibility
        Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College