Sustainability, Responsibility and Competitiveness in the AgriFood Sector

This course is designed for experienced professionals in agri-food who play a strategic or operational role in shaping their company's sustainability approach. Participants come from diverse backgrounds but share a common goal: making informed, strategic decisions in the face of complex sustainability challenges.

Typical participants include:

Executive officers, directors and board members

Department heads and managers (sustainability, legal, finance, procurement, supply chain management, product management, HR)

Senior experts seeking to grow into leadership roles

Strategy consultants and senior advisors in agri-food sectors

• Identify your company’s position in complex and high-risk agri-food value chains, including its market positioning, profitability drivers, and exposure to environmental, social, and ethical risks
• Apply tools for strategic decision-making such as systems thinking and decision-making under uncertainty
• Select feasible, impactful, and strategically aligned improvement options that balance sustainability goals with profitability and operational realities
• Design and present a strategy that aligns sustainability goals with long-term business competitiveness and internal capabilities
• Collaborate across functions and departments to align and implement decisions effectively

This course was co-created with industry leaders and WUR experts in business organisation, environmental sustainability, and social impact, bringing together diverse perspectives to match the complexity of today's agri-food sector. You will tackle real-world challenges that companies like yours face every day, including:

• Whether to stay engaged in high-risk supply chains or strategically withdraw
• How to choose between smallholder sourcing and plantation-based models
• When to prioritize long-term sustainability goals over short-term compliance
  Designed with flexibility in mind, the course allows you to focus on the challenges most relevant to your role and company strategy. Through interdisciplinary insights and peer exchange, you will gain the tools to make better decisions --- even when there are no perfect answers.

Based on your attendance you will receive a certificate after the programme is finished. Interested participants can acquire a micro-credential if they successfully complete a personal assignment after the course.