In the winter semester 2024/25, the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart is expanding its Master's degree program in Agricultural Sciences to include two unique majors: “Advisory and Innovation Services in Agri-Food Systems” and “Transformation Management for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems” Students enrolled in these two English-language degree programs will acquire the skills to become consulting and transformation professionals, guiding everyone from farmers to policymakers through the changes necessary in the future of agriculture. The majors offer graduates interesting and individual career prospects.

Information and links: https://www.uni-hohenheim.de/en/masters-informational-events

Agriculture is undergoing profound change around the world: Landscape, environmental, and resource protection are among the most important tasks of the future. Agricultural knowledge is growing impressively worldwide, but this knowledge is not always being disseminated and applied. The future will therefore see a greater need for advisory and transformation specialists who have comprehensive knowledge of the diverse interdisciplinary interrelationships and can help the agricultural sector become more sustainable.

The Master's degree programs in agricultural sciences offer ideal conditions for this with the Faculty’s wide range of departments, scientists, and projects. In the winter semester 2024/25, the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart is expanding its Master's degree program in Agricultural Science to include two unique majors: “Advisory and Innovation Services in Agri-Food Systems” and “Transformation Management for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems.”


Unique expertise in agriculture, business, consulting, and innovation

One of the biggest challenges in making agricultural and food systems sustainable is putting scientific findings into practice. The diversity of agricultural and food systems requires customized information and services.

In the agricultural sciences Master's program "Advisory and Innovation Services in Agri-Food Systems,” students therefore learn to combine practical expertise in agricultural production, agricultural economics, and/or agricultural engineering with social science competencies and skills.

For example, the students deal with the wide range of advisory services available to support innovation processes in agriculture. Or they investigate the question of whether the success of an advisory service specializing in biodiversity can be improved through cooperation with nature conservation stakeholders.


Advisory and innovation services for people in agricultural and food systems

The programs focus on people: Graduates support people working in the agricultural and food industry in achieving their goals and promoting sustainable economic practices. To this end, the prospective specialists offer customized services in the various areas of agri-food systems, bring people together and provide professional advice, support problem-solving, and promote sustainable innovations.

This includes advice on suitable sales markets as well as using resources efficiently or whether certain varieties or breeds are suitable for the local conditions or for a specific purpose. The future professionals can also provide advice on which investments make economic sense.


Career prospects: Putting scientific results into practice

“There is a growing interest in advisory services, which are being promoted in agricultural policy. These kinds of services are important all over the world,” said director of the major Prof. Dr. Andrea Knierim, from the Department of Communication and Advisory Services in Rural Areas at the University of Hohenheim. "They already play a major role in emerging markets. This is because they support the adaptability of companies in a constantly changing environment and thus promote the companies’ entrepreneurial success."

“The degree programs are aimed at interested students who have a Bachelor's degree in agricultural sciences or horticulture,” said Prof. Dr. Knierim. “Students need this basic knowledge to be able to advise agricultural businesses after graduation.”

Graduates can find career prospects in the agricultural sector and in the food industry. They work in consulting and service companies, in public administration, in companies along the agricultural and food value chains, in cooperatives, or in international cooperation and development organizations.


Sustainability as a challenge for all of society

The second new major "Transformation Management for Sustainability in Agri-Food Systems" also deals with the necessary change towards a sustainable society. “As far as I know, this is the only degree program in Europe that teaches transformation management with a focus on agri-food systems,” said the director of the major, Prof. Dr. Verena Seufert from the Department of Sustainable Use of Natural Resources.

“The new degree program combines the University of Hohenheim's broad expertise in all areas of the agricultural and food system - from Agronomy and Animal Husbandry to Agricultural Economics - with a focus on teaching sustainability and transformation skills,” stated the expert. “Students are trained to help shape the transformation process towards greater sustainability in various areas of the agricultural and food sector.”


Steer and organize transformation processes

This challenge requires specialists who not only understand the agricultural and food sector as a complex socio-ecological system, but who can also think strategically and with an eye to the future. They also have to be able to mediate among various social interest groups with conflicting goals.

In the Master's program, the prospective experts therefore deal with the question of how they can best support the implementation of innovative solutions for a sustainable future and learn about the latest theories for understanding social and institutional change processes.

“Students are given a lot of freedom in choosing their modules and are encouraged to learn independently. But they are not left alone,” said Prof. Dr. Seufert. “That's why we hold reflection days twice a year, for example, where students deal with questions such as ‘Where do I want to go?,’ ‘What do I want to specialize in?’, or ‘What are my sustainability skills, my strengths, and my weaknesses?’”


Sustainability skills open up a wide range of career opportunities

This also helps graduates to recognize different perspectives and values and to mediate among them. They can then work with a variety of people from differing backgrounds while managing and organizing complex transformation processes at various levels.

For example, they can work as sustainability managers in private companies and organizations or take on activities in non-governmental organizations such as Bread for the World, associations such as Bioland, or international organizations. They can prepare expert reports with a specialization in sustainability and accompany transformation processes for administrative institutions in the agricultural and environmental sectors.

The focus here is on structures, working methods, products, or markets in the agricultural and food sector, which are to be further developed towards sustainability using intensive measures. The degree program also qualifies students for scientific work in public research institutions in the agricultural and environmental sector.


Additional information
Master's degree in agricultural sciences: https://www.uni-hohenheim.de/en/agricultural-sciences-masters
Advisory and Innovation Services in Agri-Food Systems major: https://www.uni-hohenheim.de/en/agricultural-sciences-masters-major-advisoryservices
Transformation Management for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems major: https://www.uni-hohenheim.de/en/agricultural-sciences-masters-major-transformation

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Text: Stuhlemmer