Specializations - Food & Agribusiness
The University of Minnesota is a leader in food and agriculture policy and research. In this new specialization, Carlson School students can take advantage of the thriving food and agribusiness environment at the University and in the Twin Cities region and learn about the future of food from farm to fork.
Take classes across the University and learn both in the classroom from world-class faculty and outside it by engaging with the dynamic local ecosystem. With world-class global food companies and exciting startups trying to change the way we grow and consume food, few institutions have more opportunities than the University and the Carlson School.
Develop a career in food and help feed a projected 9 billion people sustainably.
Career Opportunities
Connect to a wide range of opportunities and companies that directly shape or impact the landscape of food and agribusiness. The Carlson Business Career Center (CBCC) at the Carlson School connects MBA students with organizations across industries, sectors, and locations. The following are among the wide array of employers that recruit talent from the Carlson School.Â
- Land O’Lakes
- Target
- CHS
- General Mills
- Amazon
- SuperValu
- Schwan’s Food Company
- Carlisle
- Coborn’s
- Syngenta
- Hormel
- Compeer Financial
- Cargill
- Post
- Organic Valley
- Partners in Food Solution
Recommended Courses
It is recommended to complete at least 12 elective credits of the below-recommended courses for a specialization in Food and Agribusiness.
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| APEC 5411 | Commodity Marketing | 3* |
| APEC 5451 | Food Marketing Economics | 3* |
| APEC 5831 | Food and Agribusiness Marketplace | 3 |
| APEC 5832 | The Business of Food Systems | 1* |
| APEC 5481 | Futures and Options Market | 3* |
| MGMT 6411 | Corporate Social Responsibility | 2 |
*These courses will require approval from instructor and Applied Econ Department for registration.
Additionally, we recommend students pursuing a food and agribusiness specialization consider incorporating involvement and leadership to obtain a well-rounded business foundation. The following opportunities exist at Carlson and across the University of Minnesota.
University Resources
One of the country's original land-grant institutions, the University of Minnesota is proud of its history as a land grant research university and remains dedicated to its mission of promoting access to higher education and collaborating to advance knowledge benefiting communities, the state, and world.
Growth North and Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship
- Thought Leaders in Food and Ag
- Food + Ag + Ideas Week
Center for International Food and Agricultural Policy
- Based in the Department of Applied Economics with an interdisciplinary approach to encouraging education and research related to food supply around the world. Brings leading industry researchers and leaders to speak on campus.
IonE’s Global Landscapes Initiative develops and applies tools needed to characterize global land use; understand land use changes; assess trends in global agricultural supply and demand; improve our ability to balance human needs with environmental stewardship; and promote secure landscapes across the globe.