Agribusiness Master Class – Philippines

The Agribusiness Master Class (AMC) develops participant knowledge of principles and practical analytical skills needed to apply market, consumer and value chain research methods to real-world agribusiness problems. It is a venue to build future leaders and collaborators in inclusive business among researchers, policy makers and private sector managers in the Philippines.

AMC is an initiative of ACIAR that was piloted in Vietnam in 2015 and has since been held in Myanmar, the Pacific, and now – the Philippines. CSIRO partnered with Foodlink Advocacy Cooperative (FAC) and with funding from ACIAR and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), tailored the AMC to the needs of the Philippines.

Over the past 12 months, we’ve taken a wonderful group of emerging leaders through a hands-on journey on value chains. More than 30 research and agribusiness specialists from the Philippines have completed the year-long Agribusiness Master Class, enhancing their skills and knowledge on agribusiness challenges and value chains, and developing projects to help smallholder farmers and agribusinesses take holistic approaches to boost incomes and livelihoods. Learning from resource persons who have practical experience in agribusiness value chains, the participants were exposed to food systems, research methods, value chain principles, community engagement, and impact thinking. Delivered in three modules, the AMC balances classroom style learning with case studies and projects, where participants learn from doing, learn in context and learn from each other. Starting off as a face-to-face program, the pandemic shifted the AMC to online – which opened up a world of opportunities and networks.

Find out more about the AMC: https://research.csiro.au/inclusivechains/