August workshop helps agribusinesses build resilience to future economic, health crises

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

OLATHE – Two Kansas State University agribusiness experts are leading a workshop aimed at helping agribusiness companies establish the resources and capabilities needed to mitigate and overcome economic and health crises, such as those businesses are experiencing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The workshop, Managing through Crisis: Lessons Learned and Opportunities for the Future, is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 18. Participants may attend in-person at the Olathe campus or virtually. On-campus attendance will be on a first-come, first-serve basis as space is limited because of social distancing guidelines.

This one-day workshop will use the recent events from COVID-19 to facilitate the capacities needed to create resilient organizations with sustainable performance regardless of the environmental challenges. The workshop focuses on enterprise risk identification, assessment and management strategies. It explores the short-term and long-term, and encourages participants to think about "Black Swans."

"The COVID-19 pandemic is certainly challenging business strategies and business models worldwide," said Vincent Amanor-Baodu, Ph.D., professor of agricultural economics and one of the workshop instructors. "Yet, it creates superb opportunities for agribusiness firms to create novel and innovative solutions that entrenches their competitiveness."

Developing the appropriate mindset would position the agri-food sector to deal with other challenges that are sure to come, said Amanor-Baodu.

The workshop is designed for the agribusiness companies and their supply chains, from input and ingredient suppliers, through processors and manufacturers, to distributors and retailers. The effects of risks in the agribusiness sector tend to migrate through and across the sector's supply chains, according to the instructors.

Allen Featherstone, Ph.D., head of the department of agricultural economics, and Amanor-Baodu – both at Kansas State University – are the instructors. They have more than 60 years of combined executive education, industry, research and award-winning teaching experience.

Registration is currently open for the Managing through Crisis: Lessons Learned and Opportunities for the Future workshop. Register before July 24 to receive a 20% discount. Group discounts also are available.