Founded in 1902, FECAP is renowned for excellence in business management education. Notably, the 2014 edition of the General Course Index (IGC) ranked FECAP among the top 1% of private institutions and among the top 2% of public and private institutions in Brazil. FECAP was also awarded best university centre in Brazil by the Editora Abril's Student Guide.
MSc & MBA in Food & Agribusiness Management
DOUBLE DEGREE IN A GROWING & DYNAMIC INDUSTRY
For future managers who are passionate about food and agriculture, the MSc. in Food and Agribusiness Management (FAM) program delivers since 2014, top academic and practical business knowledge to better manage the world’s food challenges in a responsible and innovative way. Most courses give keys to students on how to feed a growing population with limited natural resources in the future.
The key benefits students get from the FAM program are the following:
- Advanced knowledge in food & agribusiness:
A double degree from accredited business schools located in leading countries in food and agriculture: an MSc. delivered by Audencia BS in France and an MBA delivered by FECAP in Brazil,
A program accredited by the French accrediting body “Conférence des Grandes Ecoles”
- Learning from & working with people who are different: A diversified cohort of students, both in terms of academic background (50% are from engineering, 50% are from humanities and social sciences), and nationalities (all continents represented, more than 10 nationalities)
- Learning from the field: A program applied to the field through monthly visits to agrifood firms, exhibitions, & participations to food challenges; a professional thesis on a chosen agrifood problem; an internship of 4-6 months; companies’ practical projects; courses given by academics but also professionals who are experts in their field
Key Information
| DEGREES EARNED | Master of Science from Audencia in France MBA from FECAP Business School in Brazil |
|---|---|
| LANGUAGE | Programme taught in English |
| ELIGIBILITY | Proficiency in English 1-year MSc: 4-year bachelor’s degree in business, engineering or science OR exceptionally a 4-year degree in another field with business experience or academic honours; 2-year MSc strongly recommended for those without a degree in business 2-year MSc: 3-year or 4-year degree in any field |
| PROGRAMME START | September 2023 |
|---|---|
| FORMAT | Term 1: In-person at Audencia (Nantes, France) Term 2: In-person at Audencia followed by FECAP (France & Brazil) |
| TUITION | 1-year MSc: €18,000 2-year MSc: €25,000 |
Programme
“Prepare to help the global food and agribusiness sectors reinvent themselves, to produce, supply and market more sustainable food. You’ll gain the tools you need to design innovative solutions for the challenges these enterprises face, manage all aspects of agribusiness operations and market food products effectively and in a responsible manner. Your programme includes:
• Internationalised study in both France and Brazil
• Courses taught by top faculty at Audencia and FECAP as well as ABAG industry professionals
• Guest lectures and workshops led by industry experts
• Monthly field trips to a variety of local SME, SMI, but also multinational agribusiness companies, agrifood exhibitions, both in France and in Brazil
• Practical master’s projects with Audencia’s partner companies: students work in group during class, and under the supervision of faculty members; work is presented to the the company and graded by faculty
• Worldwide, hands-on 4-6 months internship (temporary or permanent job contract also accepted)
Your cross-disciplinary degree combines study in management and agrifood science, bringing together high-achieving students from diverse academic backgrounds – from agronomic or agriculture engineering to social sciences such as finance, law, languages, literature, management, international trade, etc. You’ll also acquire beginners Portuguese in preparation for your stay in Brazil!
Term 1 (September to February)
You’ll gain a solid understanding of the foundational principles of food and agribusiness management, taking 30 ECTS at Audencia in Nantes, France, and participating in field trips across the West of France and Parid. Courses may include:
- Entrepreneurship, Business Plan & Statistics
- Food Innovation & Design Thinking
- International Strategy
- Global Marketing
- Managerial Finance
- Corporate Finance
- Supply chain in agrifood sectors
- Managing across Culture
- CSR & Ethics
- Research Methods in Business
Term 2 (January to December)
In addition to your internship, company mission or research project, you will cap your programme with a professional dissertation (30 ECTS) examining an issue in the agribusiness industry – and proposing a solution.
We encourage you to use your previous work or research experience as the basis for this dissertation, highlighting your real-world experience and demonstrating your value to prospective employers. You’ll submit the written report and give an oral defense in December Y+1, either in-person in Nantes or from any place in the world via online communication tools.
Term 2 (January to March)
Now it’s time to dig deeper into the agribusiness world, taking another 15 ECTS and continuing to participate in field trips. Courses may include:• Food Value Chain & Performance• Trading & Food sustainability• Business Analytics and Big Data in Food• B2C Food Marketing
Term 2 (March to May)
At this point, you’ll move your studies to FECAP Business School, in São Paulo, Brazil, taking a further 15 ECTS to build your expertise and form your own opinion on what’s going on there. You’ll participate in field trips as well, and will benefit from many experts from the industry. You will learn about the Brazilian agriculture practices, its challenges, but also the innovative and sustainable solutions the industry is implementing now.
Courses are very practical, and complementary to what was taught in Nantes. Example courses include:
• Risk management and high-level global food strategies from a Brazilian Perspective
• Public Strategies & International Policies from a Brazilian Perspective
• Sustainable & Disruptive Innovation from a Brazilian Perspective
• Value Chain Management & Marketing from a Brazilian Perspective
• Anthropology of food and food crisis
A wide range of field trips and field projects in both France and Brazil will expand your real-world knowledge in an international context. This equips you to analyze issues facing the sector and apply your skills to solve problems. This also expands your network, to find an internship more easily, or develop your own business afterwards.
In France, the academic year starts with a team building session with a wine tasting in a vineyard in the Loire Vallée, then we visit the MIN (Marché Intérêt National Nantes), France Nessains, Olmix, SIA (Paris international agricultural show), SIAL (international food exhibition), or Valorex.
In Brazil, visits may include Cacau Show, Agrishow, PariPassu, the Port of Santos, Nestlé Nespresso, the Accenture Innovation Center, Canal Rural and more (subject to availability).
Field trips and field projects are a component of each Term.
Term 3 (June to December)
During your final term, you will complete an individual internship of 4 to 6 months. A collective consulting mission for a company, or a research project supervised by a faculty member might also be an option.
Internship
The internship period is a great opportunity for you to gain an inside look into the day-to-day workings of an organization (either a private, public, or non-profit one) enterprise in the food or agricultural sector, anywhere in the world, at any management position. Temporary or permanent job contracts are also accepted. Our career services consultants, strong corporate network, and successful Alumni network will support you in making your professional objectives a reality.
Internships in France are paid; this will vary from country to country, depending on local laws.
Example positions held by FAM interns: Market access specialist, Assistant project manager, Finance assistant, Purchasing assistant, Marketing or international trade assistant, International sales account manager, Junior business developer.
Company Mission
This professional mission will be guided by a faculty member, so you’ll gain both a hands-on practical understanding and an academic one – something that looks good on any resume. Build your network and strengthen future career possibilities.
Research Project
Instead, you may choose to work on a research project with a faculty member, delving into research questions applied to concrete company problems. This might be the ideal option to those students who want to continue on a PhD afterwards.
Optional language courses
While your programme is 100% English-taught, you have the option of adding French and Portuguese to your steadily increasing list of qualifications.
French Language: You will have the opportunity to take optional French language courses in September before the programme begins. Audencia offers a four-week French language course with 20 hours of lessons a week for an additional cost of €600.
Additionally, you can choose to attend French as a Foreign Language (FLE) evening classes at the University of Nantes’ language department, which is situated just across the road from our main campus. There are a wide range of levels available. Contact the University of Nantes directly to register. Register early to secure your place.
Portuguese for Beginners: Classes of Portuguese as a Foreign Language is included in your programme when you are in FECAP, Brazil.
You may also learn independently at any time using your exclusive online access to Assimil, a proven intuitive language learning method, provided at no additional cost.
Programme Structure
The MSc & MBA in Food & Agribusiness Management is available in two formats:
If you are a highly qualified student with a four-year degree in business, science, engineering or any other field, you may be eligible for the 1-year MSc & MBA in Food & Agribusines Management programme.
If you have a three-year degree, the 2-year MSc programme is for you.
In the 1-year MSc programme, students start directly in the core courses, specialising further in their second semester, as outlined above.
If you have a three-year degree in any field, you may be eligible for the 2-year MSc programme OR the 2-year Master in Management programme.
The first year of both programmes provides students with solid foundations in management and business, while the second year allows students to specialize in their area of interest:
In the second year of the programme, students begin the core MSc courses, and specialise further in the following semester.
18
Nationalities (class of 2021)
65%
OF GRADUATES WORK INTERNATIONALLY (2023)
41%
OF FAM GRADUATES WORK IN SALES, MARKETING, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (2023)
12%
OF FAM GRADUATES WORK IN SUPPLY CHAIN (2023)
11%
OF FAM GRADUATES ARE ENTREPRENEURS (2023)
International Partners
Audencia is among the elite 1% of business schools to hold triple accreditation from EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA. Our strong international partnerships serve as the foundation of your FAM programme. You’ll work with faculty members who have extensive industry experience, researchers who specialise in the field, and agribusiness and agrienergy corporate partners.
The FAM programme works closely with the Brazilian Agribusiness Association (ABAG), the main industry association for this sector, to develop state-of-the-art research and education. You will also be taught by leading professors in Brazil within the Biomarketing Educational Network.
The FAM programme partners with the following influential agribusiness and agrienergy corporate partners and organisations:
- Valorex Bleu Blanc Coeur
- Olmix
- Eurial
- Savencia
- Valorial
- Brazilian Agribusiness Association
- Brazilian Agribusiness Marketing Association
- Brazilian Sales Directors Association
- Brazilian Cooperatives Association
- Brazilian Food Industry Association
- Brazilian Association of Supermarkets
- Brazilian Scientific Council for Sustainability Agribusiness
- ABMRA Brazilian Rural and Agribusiness Marketing Association
Career & Alumni
The world’s massive agricultural industry needs leaders who can tackle complex issues. With the global population growing at unprecedented rates, food production will need to double by 2050 – and geopolitical matters, limited water supplies and concerns about sustainability are becoming increasingly important. As a FAM graduate, you’ll have two key advantages in the global agribusiness marketplace:
- A double degree (Master of Science and MBA)
- Practical experience in two national business environments
Note: All statistics on this page are based on the number of replies to the question. They relate to all classes to date unless otherwise stipulated.
The insights and experience you gain from leading global agribusinesses throughout the FAM will qualify you for a range of positions and industries.
What do MSc FAM graduates do ?
- 41% Sales, marketing, business development
- 19% consultancy, research, teaching
- 12% Supply chain, operations
- 11% Entrepreneur, General Manager, CEO
- 5% Various (Law, Finance, Administration, HR, Student)
- 12% NC, looking for a job
Example industries include:
- Agricultural equipment
- Animal health
- Fertilizer and crop protection
- Grains and oil seeds
- Food retail
- Seeds
- Beef, poultry and swine
- Consumer packaged goods
- Dairy products
- Ethanol
- Sugar and food ingredients
France & Brazil: Global agribusiness leaders
Additionally, you will have the opportunity to study with multicultural teams and therefore learn how to work with people who are different; all continents being represented. Only one fourth of students are French.
France is the third-largest economy in Europe and the sixth-largest economy in the world. France's food industry is the third largest in the world.
The EU’s leading agricultural nation, France is a major world exporter of high-quality agricultural commodities – and of course, French wines are more famous than any other country in the world.
The industry continues to grow. By the year 2024, the retail sales in the packaged food market in France is expected to reach US$95.4 billion, with growth of 4.5%.
The city of Nantes is located at the crossroads of the two most important agricultural and agrifood regions in France – Loire-Atlantique and Brittany. This area is also home to the largest concentration of cooperatives, SMEs and multinational agribusiness companies in France. It is the perfect location to study food and agribusiness management.
Brazil is the largest economy in Latin America and the ninth-largest economy in the world, supporting continued growth and opportunity within the food and agribusiness sector. Brazil is in the top four food-producing countries in the world, with approximately 34% of its total land area used as cropland. Brazil is a leading producer of coffee, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, oranges, pineapples, papaya, coconuts and beef.
It has the largest retail sales of the packaged food market in Latin America and the fifth largest in the world. Furthermore, this trend is expected to continue. By the 2024, Brazil is expected to have a growth rate of 30.8% in this sector.
France and Brazil have successful industry relationships, and Brazil’s top two retailers are French: Carrefour and Grupo Pao de Acucar (controlled by Casino). Brazil is an important player in food and agribusiness, and São Paulo is a major hub for agribusiness in South America.
A multinational professional network
But more importantly, you will be trained to search for internships or job positions, through a series of seminars organized by the Career Service Department.
Audencia provides you with personalised career services that address your specific experiences, strengths and weaknesses, and goals. We also cultivate close ties with the business world, which benefit you in the classroom and in your future career.
- Individual career coaching and advising
- 90,000+ employment opportunities posted each year on our dedicated intranet
- Employment fairs with 120+ companies
- CV workshops
- Interview preparation and mock interviews
- Panel discussions with professionals and alumni
- Assessment centre preparation
- Personal development programme on topics including leadership skills, communication skills, ethics, intercultural management and networking
- Auditing sector fair
- Information resources and online tools
- Access to 100+ career events on various topics
Audencia also has a business incubator that supports select graduates in their entrepreneurial work.
Audencia Alumni
Join more than 27,000 Audencia Business School alumni working across the globe. Audencia Alumni includes 200+ communities in cities such as London, New York and Shanghai. Furthermore, over 2,000 of our alumni have become CEOs.
The alumni association will help you connect with other professionals and provide additional development and networking opportunities to support your career.
Admissions & Finance
For a full breakdown of programme pathways, eligibility requirements and application procedures, see: Admissions Pathways.
Join us in Nantes to internationalise your future career!
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