Skip to content
AFECO
Agricultural and Food Economics
How can a competitive and sustainable agri-food sector help preserve natural resources? The field of agricultural economics answers this question among others, and respective expertise will be very much needed in the future when facing the challenges of a growing population, increasing land use conflicts, changing consumer behavior and progressing climate change.
The Master of Science degree program in Agricultural and Food Economics (AFECO) at the University of Bonn provides students with the necessary skills and knowledge to analyze and further develop economic activities. This includes examining associated policies along the entire food value chain, i.e. from farming to processing, trade and consumption.
Active learning through participation in research projects is an integral part of the curriculum. Students in this international degree program benefit from excellent teaching that qualifies graduates for diverse managing roles in private businesses, public administration and research institutions.
Possible lines of work:
Consultancies and insurers, private businesses, associations, non-profit organizations, agricultural and food authorities, environmental protection, development cooperation
MSc Study Program on Agricultural and Food Economics (AFECO)
Will we be able to feed the world in 2050? How do farmers handle the economic challenges and opportunities of globalized world markets? How do producers and processors react to the consumers’ permanently increasing requirements for food safety and sustainability? How can natural resources be preserved by a competition-oriented and sustainable agrifood sector?
Agricultural economics provides answers to these and other questions. Key global challenges such as a growing global population, increasing land use conflicts, or climate change will continue to demand this type of expertise in the future. The international Master study program „Agricultural and Food Economics“ (AFECO) provides you with the necessary knowledge and skills to answer this demand. The program will qualify you for leadership activities in the private sector, public administrations and research institutes. Find out more about our study program, the career prospects of our graduates and experiences of our alumni on this website.
Our four Majors
These are the four majors offered in the international Master study program „Agricultural and Food Economics“ (AFECO):
Our mission
To educate the next generation of decision-makers who will help steering our society on the transition toward a sustainable global bioeconomy.
To that effect, our program equips students with state-of-the-art theoretical, methodological and sectoral knowledge and skills. We encourage holistic thinking in a systemic perspective, from farmer to consumer and from local to global scale.
Our diverse teaching formats encourage the development of problem-solving skills needed for individual and team-oriented positions in management and research. We support individual profiling, not least by offering the possibility to major in the fields of Agribusiness (ABS), Resource and Environmental Economics (ENV), Market and Consumer Research (MAC), or Agricultural and Development Policy (APO). Our international study program is taught entirely in English and reflects the diversity of potential employers in agribusiness, the food industry, NGOs, public authorities as well as public and private research institutes. The agri-food sector is characterized by globalization and international trade relations, and the interdisciplinary and intercultural skills that students develop through their Master program in order to further contribute to their successful professional careers.
Silvan Berg
Nationality: German
Year of Graduation: 2014
MSc thesis
Analyzing technological path dependency from a patent perspective
© Uni Bonn
Please tell us about your AFECO experience and its benefits to your development
After completing my bachelor's degree in International Business, I started looking for a master's program that combines economic studies with specific industry knowledge. For me, the AFECO program is one of the best opportunities in Germany to experience these dual insights. I remember very well enjoying the wide range of courses. In the end, I ended up majoring in agribusiness, but that was more by chance.
What is your current occupation?
I am working as a manager for ritzenhoefer & company, a leading management consultancy service provider specialised in strategy, innovation and transformation. We help our clients to develop new markets, establish innovative multi-sector business models and drive technological and organisational change.
How did AFECO help you get where you are?
Looking back, it's not easy to say how the AFECO program helped me in my current professional situation - especially since a PhD came in-between. But I really appreciated the many applied studies, the supportive professors, and the diversity of my fellow students. It is a great benefit to make friends with people from all over the world who have a similar interest in global agricultural developments. In any case, the AFECO program helped me discover my interest in organizational transformations - something that is still the most important issue in my daily work.v
Elena Zurli
Nationality: Italian
Year of Graduation: 2017
MSc thesis
Developing a Functioning Seed Sector: an Evaluation Framework for Developing Countries
© Uni Bonn
Please tell us about your AFECO experience and its benefits to your development
Coming from a development studies background, I was immediately drawn to the most policy-related classes offered by the MSc, therefore I majored in Agricultural and Development Policy. I also valued the opportunity to combine this major with exams on environmental sustainability and modelling, which trained me in quantitative areas that were unknown to me.
What is your current occupation?
I work for the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT (CGIAR) as Program Delivery Officer in the context of a JPO program funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
How did AFECO help you get where you are?
It gave me the competitive edge of learning the dynamics of the global food system along with gaining skills in policy and program analysis. The international environment did the rest of the trick.
Kathrin Poetschki
Nationality: German
Year of Graduation: 2018 (2016/17 in Bonn, 2017/18 at WUR)
MSc thesis
© Uni Bonn
Please tell us about your AFECO experience and its benefits to your development
In 2016 I started with the AFECO programme in Bonn. Apart from the compulsory courses, I took courses which manly focused on agricultural and environmental politics. My Bachelor programme was more about rural development and I was interested in learning more about the impact of trade and trade politics as well as agricultural and rural politics on economy, society and nature. I decided to do the double degree programme, so I spent the second year of my MSc at Wageningen University. This was linked to some extra challenges and efforts, but of course also to some extra benefits. What I liked most about my master programme: improving language skills in Dutch and English, building a network among German and international students and alumni, learning more about the correlation between society, agricultural economy, nature and policy and politics.
What is your current occupation?
I am working with Agrobusiness Niederrhein e.V. as a project coordinator for a Dutch-German project called “Agropole”, which is funded by the EU, the province of Limburg and the MULNV of NRW. The agribusiness faces various challenges that limit and endanger the competitiveness of companies. My task is to network stakeholders from the agribusiness so that solutions can be worked out together or inspiration for solutions can be exchanged. Transfer of knowledge and experiences is facilitated through seminars, company visits and workshops, which are organised by the Agropole project team. Furthermore, we are also interested in keeping young talents in the region. Helping companies improving their employer branding, publishing information about local companies and organising matchmaking events is also part of the Agropole project. Are you looking for a job or opportunity to do an internship? Get in touch with Agrobusiness Niederrhein and benefit from a broad cross-border network.
How did AFECO help you get where you are?
Within the AFECO programme, I chose for the Double Degree. This gave me advantages in terms of building my network in Germany and the Netherlands. It also allowed me to take inspiration from both universities and broaden my own perspective. I specially remember the ACT – the Academic Consultancy Training at WUR, because here I also learned a lot about my strengths and weaknesses and my role within teams through the intensive support of a coach and other supervisors. This was very helpful in knowing what kind of job and position suits me and to better reflect on my work and the overall work of my team. I have the idea that these learning outcomes are more relevant for my current occupation than the expertise I gained in specific courses. Nevertheless, the knowledge gained in specific courses of course helps be better understanding complex problems and challenges that affect the agribusiness.
Felix Rössing
Nationality: German
Year of Graduation: 2021
MSc thesis
Assessing the Eco-Efficiency of Conventional and Conservation Farming in Germany
© Uni Bonn
Please tell us about your AFECO experience and its benefits to your development
I took the AFECO in 4 semesters at the University of Bonn. I did a major in environmental economics and a minor in agro-economic modelling. I always worked at the university and tried to combine my work at the institute with my studies. By choosing a major and minor, I was able to focus on the modules and topics that I was most interested in. So I became reasonably good at these subjects which helped me in my job search.
What is your current occupation?
Currently, I work for the “Kuratorium für Technik und Bauwesen in der Landwirtschaft e.V.” (KTBL) (Board of Trustees for Technology and Construction in Agriculture). The KTBL is an independent association that works on many relevant topics of agriculture in its office and in cooperation with a large honorary staff and publishes project results in the form of data collections. One of the most important tasks of the KTBL is the calculation of agri-environment-climate measures. My current task is to support the demand for sustainable agriculture, taking into account the motto of public money for public services. Specifically, I am working on how sustainability can be described in terms of by-products of agricultural production, so-called sustainability goods. The goal is to create the basis for a regionalized market for sustainability goods. Furthermore, I am in close cooperation with the Thünen Institute, which is responsible for the extension of the Farm Accountancy Data Network to a Farm Sustainability Data Network.
Farina Burgsmüller
Nationality: German
Year of Graduation: 2021
MSc thesis
A digitalized Bioeconomy – Exploring cross-industry Merger and Acquisition activities to analyse convergence potential
© Uni Bonn
Please tell us about your AFECO experience and its benefits to your development
I started the AFECO master’s degree in 2017 choosing my major in Agribusiness and graduated in May 2020. AFECO was fundamental for my development path. The opportunity to learn more about the agri-food industry and my personal ambition to make a positive contribution has always motivated me. Not only that I acquired a lot of specific knowledge especially in the areas of organizational & strategic planning and marketing but also, I learned scientific working, self-organization, presentation, language, and teamwork skills. Through the AFECO program I felt perfectly prepared to start my career.
But also besides my studies I was able to learn during internships and part-time jobs: During my last year I worked as student assistant at the chair for technology and innovation management in Agribusiness (Uni Bonn). Moreover, I had the chance to gain experience in the feed industry, in a food quality scheme and in consulting.
What is your current occupation?
I work for ELFIN Consulting GmbH, located in Cologne. ELFIN Consulting is a business consultancy bridging the gap between strategy and implementation. With the goal to transform strategies into accelerated and sustainable growth. Main service areas are (a.) Agile facilitation & digital transformation, (b.) marketing and communications, (c.) sustainability and life cycle assessment and (d.) Learning and knowledge transfer. Our competencies and services focus on the industrial sectors of agriculture, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and plastics.
I started as junior consultant (2021) and got promoted to Consultant this year. I have my special expertise in Food and Agriculture related topics. My key working areas are internal regulation management, training development, process mapping and implementation as well as analysis of monitoring tool data and derivation of improvement measures.
How did AFECO help you get where you are?
Knowledge acquisition and learning: In two years AFECO I learned a lot, so I can just mention a small extract here: With having the major in Agribusiness I learned how a company works and basic theories of organizational management. I acquired knowledge in strategy development and Innovation management. But also the classes in market and consumer research were very interesting. I learned how to cope with complex data sets, scientific publications, to write reports and papers by myself and to present the outcome to the class daily. Especially turning complex interrelationships into understandable, digestible content is helpful in my current job.
Personal development: But also on a personal level I learned to be confident in my role, to organize and structure myself and I improved my communication skills. But one of the most important and valuable points is, that I met a lot of great people and made close friendships that last until today.
Alina Weinbrenner
Nationality: German
Year of Graduation: 2020
MSc thesis
Nudging Healthy Beverage Choice with Health Prompts: An Experimental Study in a University Canteen
© Uni Bonn
Please tell us about your AFECO experience and its benefits to your development
I started my AFECO master's in 2017 and graduated in early 2020. I did my major in Market and Consumer Research as I am particularly interested in marketing and behavioural economics and already gained experience in marketing as a working student and intern during my bachelor's degree.
Alongside my studies, I gained valuable experience in the field of food quality, which was a great possibility to apply the theoretical knowledge I gained in AFECO in practice. AFECO has improved my knowledge in business while giving me a good background in agriculture with a focus on ag innovation and global challenges, since I did not have a deep knowledge of agricultural topics with my bachelor's degree in food science.
What is your current occupation?
I work as a Consultant in the area of sustainability marketing and communication at ELFIN Consulting GmbH in Cologne. The projects I work on are in the areas of strategic stakeholder communication and management, brand development and management, and content creation.
How did AFECO help you get where you are?
AFECO has helped me improve my English skills and become more confident in presenting in English in front of a larger audience. Through projects and teamwork, I learned to work with people from different backgrounds in a team collaboratively towards a goal. The assignments and project work gave me an understanding of scientific work and prepared me for my professional life in the best possible way. I have learned to work and learn in a structured and consistent way to meet deadlines. The combination of economics, agricultural topics, individual work, and teamwork has prepared me optimally for my professional life.
Anna Massfeller
Nationality: German
Year of Graduation: 2020
MSc thesis
© Uni Bonn
Please tell us about your AFECO experience and its benefits to your development
After having studied agricultural sciences with a focus on agricultural economics in my bachelor’s in Bonn, I decided to continue with the AFECO. I didn’t plan to do a certain major or minor from the beginning but rather took the courses that sounded interesting to me. I especially enjoyed the course on behavioral economics. I wanted to apply some of the knowledge I learned there in my master’s thesis, so I actively searched for a topic that interested me content-wise and methodologically. At the chair of production economics, I then wrote the master thesis. For me, it was very important and helpful to have some personal interest and intrinsic motivation in the topic, as you deal with it for a longer time. I enjoyed the work on my master’s thesis so much, that I decided to stay in academia.
What is your current occupation?
I am a Ph.D. student at the ILR, in the “Data Science in Agricultural Economics Group” of Hugo Storm. I am employed within the PhenoRob Cluster of Excellence where we focus on new technologies in crop production. I mainly work on 1) farmers’ adoption decisions and 2) policies needed to exploit the full potential of new technologies. I am interested in behavioral economics, spatial econometrics, and close contact with farmers. For me, doing a Ph.D. is a perfect combination of being able to develop myself and working on things that interest me while being in a supportive and friendly setting. I enjoy the freedom of organizing my work day, the possibility to travel to conferences, and the chance to meet many interesting people from all around the world.
How did AFECO help you get where you are?
During the AFECO master, I realized more and more where my interests lie and I could develop my personal and professional strengths. In the beginning, I wasn’t a fan of method-focused courses. However, during my master’s and especially during the master thesis, the goal of solving certain research problems has awakened in me an interest in the necessary methods. The AFECO master’s offered the possibility to learn a lot about different topics related to agricultural and food economics, which helped me to decide in what direction I want to go.
Giang Duong
Nationality: Vietnamese
Year of Graduation: 2019
MSc thesis
Explaining farmers’ adoption of rice straw mushroom growing in Can Tho city in Mekong River Delta, Vietnam – An application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour
© Uni Bonn
Please tell us about your AFECO experience and its benefits to your development
I followed the AFECO program during 2017-2019 after having worked several years at the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. The AFECO program helped me to consolidate my agricultural economic knowledge and sharpen my analytical skills, especially quantitative ones, which are very helpful for my work.
What is your current occupation?
I am working with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations as a Value Chain Development Consultant. My work focuses on supporting and facilitating the development of sustainable food value chains and food systems, particularly in developing countries. I am in charge of a wide range of tasks, including conducting research to inform decision-making, as well as project formulation/design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. I’ve been supporting projects in various regions, ranging from Sub-Saharan Africa, the Balkan, the Caucasus, to the Caribbean and Asia-Pacific. A big part of the work requires intensive interaction and consultations with various value chain stakeholders coming from the private and public sectors, the civil society, and the broader community involved in the value chains of consideration.
How did AFECO help you get where you are?
The AFECO program has consolidated my agricultural economic knowledge and sharpened my analytical skills, especially quantitative ones, which are very helpful for my work. Of particular relevance are the skills regarding evaluating the impacts of development projects and policies, which I try to apply to the projects I’m involved in so as to improve the effectiveness of project interventions.
Maximilian Meyer
Nationality: German
Year of Graduation: 2017
MSc thesis
Smallholder palm oil production in Central Kalimantan: Assessing scope for improving environmental and economic performance
© Uni Bonn
Please tell us about your AFECO experience and its benefits to your development
I studied AFECO from 2015 to 2017. During this time, I focused on resource and environmental economics and was able to graduate with a Major Specification in this field. It is not only the master that helps you in your professional career. A major (or minor) is another tool to shape your profile, which proved to be helpful later on in my professional life. I also went a semester abroad, studying in Finland, which enabled me to gain experience in an international context with different teaching methods and a different vibe altogether, which was really enriching. During the field phase of my master thesis, I went to Indonesia to study the economics of palm oil farming. Field research is another valuable experience that increases your value as an employee on the job market.
What is your current occupation?
I work as a postdoctoral research at Agroscope, Switzerland, where I am conducting research on human-environment interactions and human-wildlife conflict in the context of alpine farming. Through a newly established trial station (Versuchsstation Berg und Alplandwirtschaft), we analyse farm level data using econometric methods to identify the effects of human wildlife conflict and potential mitigation strategies on farm outcomes. Additionally, the trial station and its facility network across the whole of Switzerland’s mountainous cantons allows studying pasture and grazing management systems to find resilient solutions for climate change and livestock predators.
How did AFECO help you get where you are?
Studying with the AFECO program gave me an idea of where I wanted to go in my professional life. On the one hand, it is quite a broad study field, but it can be narrowed down when choosing specific, specialized courses in one of the major specifications. Through this and my master thesis, I was able to secure a position as a PhD student. During my PhD studies, I was able to dive much deeper into my field of interest and learn more hard skills to gain experience and expertise. I believe that studying the things that interest you most is how you become the best version of yourself in a professional sense. This may be a very privileged view but one that seems to have worked for me.
Alexandra Trecha
Once I found the AFECO program at UniBonn, I knew it was the right program for me. The chance to not only receive an international Master of Science degree but take advantage of the Uni’s proximity to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change for an internship opportunity, made my time in Bonn beyond worthwhile. With a B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan, the AFECO program allowed me to specialize in environmental economics, equipped with the analytical skills necessary for a future in the climate and clean energy spaces. My Master’s thesis work on the impact of protected areas on international deforestation rates was completed with ample support from my professor and supervisor, setting me up for success in future policy recommendation work. The program also introduced me to friends from all over the world that I will no doubt cherish for the rest of my life. Thank you AFECO and UniBonn!
Kennedy Okech
Pursuing a Master's program in AFECO is one of the best decisions I have made so far in my life. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree from Kenya and working in financial institutions, NGOs, and in the Agro-chemical industry, I was ready to pursue an international master’s program. Although I had received admission from various universities in the US with partial funding, the ability to study at a highly rated publicly-funded University in Germany was too good to pass. The AFECO program is excellent as it integrates theoretical and practical training to develop all-rounded students for both the industry and academia. My writing, research, and presentation skills significantly improved. If you are looking for an international program in Agricultural and Food Economics, I highly recommend the AFECO program at the University of Bonn.
© Uni Bonn
© Uni Bonn
Marie Amman
Within the framework of the University of Bonn and Wageningen University & Research I had the opportunity to participate in the BoWaCo double degree program. I did my first year at Bonn University and my second year at Wageningen. I enjoyed the flexible study program and the international learning environment. Both years at the two universities allowed me to get a better picture of the global value chain of our food and agricultural products as well as issues related to climate change and the current fragile situation of our environment. This enables me now to make a good contribution to our food and agricultural economy.
Sebastian Haberstock
International cooperation and team work have always been important to me in today's globalized world. Therefore, the logical conclusion after my Bachelor in Agricultural Sciences with a focus on politics and economics was to apply to the AFECO Master programme. The AFECO Master programme truly encourages an international perspective. I got to make many international friends and learn about their cultures during my ERASMUS semester in Sweden, during my time in the IAAS (International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Sciences) and during my job as a study buddy, where I supported new incoming students to get around in Bonn and in the AFECO Master programme.
© Uni Bonn
© Uni Bonn
Petra Krug
The AFECO programme was connected to my bachelor’s degree in agricultural science with an economic major in Bonn. I was already thinking about working at the University as a student assistant during my bachelor's degree and was interested in getting a deeper insight into research and its background. During my employment at the chair group “Technology and Innovation Management in Agribusiness” I got a great inside view into the work of the chair and scientific research in general. Next to preparing lectures for bachelor and master sessions, I could experience theoretical knowledge from my own lectures in form of participate group discussions, assist in the creation of surveys and discover the end of the research process in the form of dissertations and publications.
Timothy Daniel Butterworth
After graduating with a BSc from the University of Massachusetts in 2010, I worked for several years in jobs involving accounting, personal investments and data analysis. When my wife and I decided in 2016 to leave Boston and move to Germany, Bonn was the obvious choice. The AFECO Program stood out to me because it was offered in English, its curriculum was flexible and it combined my interest in environmental issues and the food industry with my background in finance. AFECO has enabled me to explore my interests through its courses, as well as participating in research as a student assistant, visiting farms and factories in the beautiful countryside and volunteering on an organic farm. I am grateful for the opportunity to pursue a publicly funded Master’s degree at an excellent University.
© Uni Bonn
© Uni Bonn
An Cao
Going for AFECO program was a remarkable shift in my career path – since I had a bachelor in banking and finance and had been working for a few years in that field. Nevertheless, that turned out to be a right decision. As a person from an agriculture-based region in Mekong Delta, the program helped me gain back appreciation and respect towards agriculture from an international perspective. The study program was both challenging and inspiring. It comprises a well-balanced combination of theory- and practice-oriented subjects, and therefore can meet a diverse range of career perspectives of the students. AFECO is also where I am thankful to received invaluable encouragements and supports to successfully accomplish my Master’s degree, and therefore to believe that good attitude and efforts will be compensated greatly.
Elisabeth Stegen
After my Bachelor's degree at the University of Hohenheim in Agricultural Sciences I decided to focus on the economics of food production. My decision to enrol in the AFECO programme was based on courses offered in development economics and policy as well as environmental economics. The faculty's good reputation also influenced my decision. Bonn is a nice place as well - I especially like that I can cycle everywhere.
© Uni Bonn
The process you're asking about refers to how study places are allocated at universities that have more applicants than available spots for certain subjects, using what is termed a "Local Numerus Clausus (NC)" system. Here's a simplified explanation:
1. **Local Numerus Clausus (NC)**:
- This is a type of admission restriction applied locally by a university for specific courses that have limited capacity.
2. **Distribution of Study Places**:
- Study places for courses with a local NC are divided based on different criteria after setting aside a certain number of seats for specific groups (like foreign applicants).
- **20%** of seats are given based on the grade of your university entrance qualification (like Abitur in Germany).
- **80%** of seats are distributed through the university's own selection process (known as "AdH" or Selection Process of the Higher Education Institutions).
3. **Detailed Breakdown of the AdH**:
- Within the AdH, **20%** of the places are allocated purely based on university entrance qualification scores.
- The remaining **60%** are allocated based on a combination of entrance qualification scores and a waiting period, up to a maximum of seven semesters.
- Candidates are ranked in a scoring system where they can score up to 100 points.
4. **Supplementary Criteria**:
- Universities have the flexibility to incorporate additional selection criteria like aptitude tests or relevant work experience instead of just waiting time, if they choose to set this in their specific regulations for the course.
This system allows universities to manage admissions more effectively by considering both academic qualifications and other relevant factors, providing a fair chance to diverse applicants. It's designed to select students who are not only academically qualified but also well-rounded individuals suited to the program's profile.
Preliminary Course "Mathematics (minor)"
Course description
In this preliminary course, we will refresh some of the high school math curriculum in a “university style.” Specifically, we will revisit the calculus you will frequently need during your studies at the University of Bonn.
Examples will be used to illustrate all methods and laws. The goal of the course is to prepare you for the mathematics part of your chosen degree program and hence to give you a head start into your studies.
Topics:
Calculus
Functions
Geometry
Equations and inequations
Linear algebra
Differential calculus and integral calculus
Probability theory
This preliminary course consists of two parts.
Solving problems in online tests
Using online learning modules and online tests on our PreCampus portal, you will work on basic calculus and simple standard issues from the high school math curriculum. In this way, each participant can work on the problems at their own pace and identify the knowledge gaps they still need to close. It is especially important to work on this part carefully because the contents presented here will be considered a given in the face-to-face section of the preliminary course.
You should therefore give yourself sufficient time for completing the online tests. Two weeks would be ideal. It is extremely important that you complete the online test before the lectures and tutorials of the preliminary course begin.
You will receive your login information for the online portal after you register for the preliminary course.
Two-week preliminary course with lectures and tutorials
In this section, we will refresh more difficult topics from the high school math curriculum and highlight some contexts for their application. In addition, we will apply the contents covered in the online tests. Links between the various mathematical topics will be explained in detail and there will be plenty of room for practicing the concepts you have learned. The focus is on applying your knowledge to solve problems. This part of the preliminary course consists of daily lectures and tutorials (on workdays). Note that we will not repeat the contents of the online tests!
The entire preliminary course is designed to give you the opportunity to repeat those contents of high school mathematics that you will be expected to know as a university student and to learn how to transfer them to different contexts of application.
Take advantage of the opportunity to complete both parts of the preliminary course with dedication. This will make it much easier for you to begin your studies. Be prepared for the fact that at university level, all mathematical aspects will be considered in a more abstract manner than what you were used to in high school. That is why it is crucial that you have your high school math ready and that you have practiced those math skills extensively.
After Studying
Holders of an AFECO degree find their employment opportunities in service companies like insurances and consulting firms, in business companies, in associations, non-profit-organizations and public authorities of the agricultural and food sector, of environmental protection and of development cooperation.
Our students benefit from the excellent visibility of the institute and the AFECO program when starting their professional career, supported by an active learning process which also encourages to take an active part in international research projects.
A yearly organized agricultural career day offers the students the chance to get in direct contact with potential employers and inform themselves about the job market.
Preliminary Course "Chemistry for Agricultural and Nutrition Sciences"
This course is for incoming students in Agricultural Sciences and Nutrition and Food Sciences who had little or no exposure to chemistry in their final years of high school. The preliminary course highlights essential issues in chemistry, making it easier for students to tackle the chemistry-related aspects of their degree programs.
Course description
This course is for incoming students in Agricultural Sciences and Nutrition and Food Sciences who had little or no exposure to chemistry in their final years of high school. The preliminary course highlights essential issues in chemistry, making it easier for students to tackle the chemistry-related aspects of their degree programs.
Topics:
Basic concepts of chemistry: atomic structure, elements, molecules, formulas, mole, concentrations, stoichiometry, phases, solutions; differences between chemistry and physics
Types of chemical compounds: ionic compounds, covalent compounds, metallic compounds
Types of reactions: acid-base reactions, redox reactions, solubility; the chemical equilibrium; energy conversion.
Curriculum Master of Agricultural and Food Economics (AFECO) starting intake winter term 2020/21
©
The master program covers:
Compulsory modules with a total of 30 ECTS (credit points):
Extended Methods of Empirical Research, Microeconomics, Organizational Management, Risk Management in Agribusiness, Excursion in Agricultural and Food Economics.
Electives with a total of 54 ECTS (credit points) of which a maximum of 12 LP can be chosen from the agricultural faculty’s general program.
Compulsory Research Seminar with a total of 6 ECTS:
Consists of a self-responsible literature survey, which will be defended by the candidate. This will strengthen the student’s ability to present his ideas in scientific discussions and help in preparing the content of the master thesis.
Master Thesis with a total of 30 ECTS.
Please note: we advise a start in the AFECO program in the Winter Semester (WiSe), but a start in the Summer Semester (SoSe) is also possible. In this case, the compulsory modules of the 1st and 2nd semester are inverted.
Curriculum Master of Agricultural and Food Economics (AFECO) until intake summer term 2020
The master program covers:
Compulsory modules with a total of 30 LP (credit points):
Methods of Empirical Research, Microeconomics, Global Food Markets and Systems, Decision Theory and Risk Management, Excursion.
Electives with a total of 54 LP (credit points) of which a maximum of 12 LP can be chosen from the agricultural faculty’s general program.
Compulsory Research Seminar with a total of 6 LP:
Consists of a self-responsible literature survey, which will be defended by the candidate. This will strengthen the student’s ability to present his ideas in scientific discussions and help in preparing the content of the master thesis.
Master Thesis with a total of 30 LP
©
Major / Minor Specification
©
AFECO students have the possibility to sharpen their profile and choose Electives with a focus on a Major Specification and/or Minor Specifications.
Requirements for the Major Specification:
Note: each of the major specification can also be combined with a compulsory internship, in which case the major is further specified as "practice oriented".
Requirements for the Minor Specification:
Every module can only be accounted once i.e. either for the Major or Minor Specification.
Characteristics of the Specifications
Agribusiness (ABS)
Modules like “Investment and Financing”, “Agricultural Production Economics” and “Strategy and Innovation Management in Agribusiness” are central to this specification. Students have the possibility to acquire expertise in modern bookkeeping, different methods of benefit and cost analysis, and operational optimization. In addition, students can get a deeper knowledge of different innovation strategies and the innovation management of firms.
Market and Consumer Research (MAC)
Students get a deeper knowledge about how firms act on the market and which strategies they use to get a competitive advantage. In addition, they gain deeper insights into methods of quantitative and qualitative market and marketing research, as well as into the communication policy in agricultural and food markets. Core courses in this specification are: “Food Industrial Economics”, “Behavioral Economics” and “Consumer oriented Communication in the Food Sector”.
Resource and Environmental Economics (ENV)
In this specification sustainability, ecology and environmental policy are core to the students’ agenda. Students learn advanced approaches to ecological and environmental economics such as life-cycle analysis and impact evaluation in courses like “Impact evaluation of conservation & development projects and environmental policies” and “Bio-economic modelling at farm-scale”. In addition, students will develop a deeper understanding about biodiversity protection, and they familiarize themselves with optimal control theory and the international environmental agreements that can be used to develop exemplary approaches for their own research in environmental economics.
Agricultural and Development Policy (APO)
In this course specification, students focus on agricultural and development policy issues. They learn how to apply economic theory in analyzing existing agricultural policies in courses like “European and International Agricultural Policy” and “Applied Modelling of Agricultural Systems”. Furthermore, students get insights into the theoretical and methodological basics of the “Sociology Development”, which includes social phenomena and strategies at the micro and macro level and the structure, function and change of agri-social system
Theses
Open topics for Bachelor and Master theses at the Institute for Food and Resource Economics.
These topics are suggestions and are typically related to ongoing research projects. You can approach the groups if you have a topic proposal that fits their research.
Further information is available on the groups' websites.
Current topics for theses deal with e.g. consumers' acceptance of sustainable packaging, consumers' liking of meat substitutes, farmers' acceptance of novel technologies.
Bachelor:
Want to print your doc?
This is not the way.
This is not the way.
Try clicking the ⋯ next to your doc name or using a keyboard shortcut (
CtrlP
) instead.