Level: Master course
Duration: 2 years
Language: English
Admission: public selection
Location: C3A - Center Agriculture Food Environment, San Michele all’Adige (Trento, Italy)

The postgraduate programme aims to train agrifood innovation managers who are capable of managing innovation in the whole food supply chain, from production to transformation, including marketing and commercialization. The degree also provides knowledge and understating on the evolution of food culture, trends in agrifood markets, development of agrifood legislation, and consumer preferences and behaviour. Our graduates will have entrepreneurial competences and skills to work in the agrifood industry, launch start-ups and new business ventures.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes aim at acquiring knowledge in:

  • biology, physiology, genetics of the production and harmful agents and their interaction in the ecosystem
  • innovative and sustainable production, conservation and transformation methods of crop and alpine short-cycle animal farming as well as their impact on the chemical-physical and sensorial qualitative characteristics of agrifood products
  • innovative strategies, solutions and methods for the quantitative-qualitative improvement of agricultural production, adaptive defense against biotic and abiotic stresses via a more sustainable use of natural resources and a reduction of the impacts on environmental and human health
  • new strategies and methods to introduce innovation in agrifood production and processing
  • principles for sustainable agrifood production and innovative solutions for the reduction of anthropic impact of agriculture on the environment, with emphasis on risk and opportunities that rural areas may encounter
  • key principles of marketing applied to the agrifood sector, with focus on innovative products, national and international markets and their evolution
  • key principles of law related to agrifood production and commercialization, protection and promotion of technological innovation, including ethical principles
  • machines and plants for the production, storage and transformation of agri-food products, design, selection criteria with attention to the most innovative aspects also related to sensors and automation, control systems and data analysis

At the end of the studies, graduates will be able to:

  • improve crop and animal production in terms of quality and sustainability and increase the competitiveness of supply chains thanks to: the introduction of advanced techniques and technologies, the use of traditional and innovative genetic improvement tools, the implementation of advanced agronomic practices including storage and transformation in post-harvest, the use of biotechnology and biological techniques for crop defense and animal nutrition in extensive farming to improve animal welfare
  • develop or optimize innovative and sustainable production processes including aspects related to production, genetic improvement, defense, engineering, agricultural economics, marketing, industrial standards and regulations
  • design, introduce and independently manage and test the innovation in traditional supply chains, also considering the production of new types of food, with attention to the market demand and consumer preferences
  • program, plan and conduct analyses, process collected data with advanced mathematical models and IT tools; critically interpret the results; write reports within research project and development of research proposal which aims to improve agricultural production and its sustainability

Professional profile

The course aims at training a high-level professional figure, specialized in the planning and management of innovation in agri-food supply chains, with a specific focus on the improvement of agronomic management and storage in medium-small farms and in other realities, such as:

  • companies operating in the production, storage, transformation and marketing of plant and animal products
  • cooperatives
  • public and private entities that offer specific services in the agri-food sector
  • public and private research and consultancy institutions, national (Ministries, Regional and Provincial Departments, Professional trade associations, National Certification Service, Technical Services of Local and Territorial Administrations, Environmental Agencies, Associations for the protection of productions, certification bodies for agricultural production, etc.) and international organization in the public sector  (European Commission, EFSA, FAO, etc.)
  • large retail centers and chains
  • freelance agronomist profession.

Studies after Master Degree

The graduate in Agrifood Innovation Management will be able to continue his training with a Doctorate programme at the University of Trento (Agrifood and environmental sciences) or at other Italian and foreign Universities.

Aggiornato il
27 July 2023