Course:FRE515

FRE 515: Agribusiness Management
FRE 515
Section:
Instructor:	Karen Taylor, PhD, MBA, P.Ag
Email:	kwtaylor@mail.ubc
Office:	MCML 352
Office Hours:	before or after class, or by appointment
Class Schedule:	Before Feb Reading Break Tuesdays 10:00- 1:00 After Feb Reading Break Mons/Weds: 10:30 to 12:00
Classroom:	MCML 154
Important Course Pages
	Syllabus
	Lecture Notes
	Assignments
	Course Discussion

COURSE INFORMATION

Instructor: Karen W. Taylor, PhD, MBA, P.Ag.

E-mail: kwtaylor@mail.ubc.ca

Cell: 778-875-0385

Class Time:

Part 1: January 6th – February 12th, 2025

Tuesdays: 10:00 – 1:00 pm (MCML 154)

Part 2: February 24th – April 11th, 2025

Mondays and Wednesdays: 10:30 pm – 12:00 pm (MCML 154)

Fridays: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm Site Visits – details TBD.

Office Hours: upon request

Office: 3rd floor MCML

Website: UBC Canvas

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is designed to further develop and analyze concepts learned in FRE 516 and apply them in a practical context with real-life examples in the agriculture, food and resource sectors.  This is done as a combination of in-class lectures and site-visits in the Lower Mainland so students can see first-hand agribusiness in action!  Topic coverage includes financial statement analysis and how it is used by owners, investors, lenders, and industry stakeholders to make decisions. We discuss how to value a business in terms of its assets, earnings, cash flow, and market factors.  Students learn in depth about the real-world financing of agribusinesses, sources and uses of capital, and how sustainable finance is currently utilized.   We discuss various production management techniques (JIT, LEAN, vertical integration, etc.), and what successful leadership looks like.  Lastly, the class will dive into what is recently occurring related to sustainable finance and how lending and businesses are preparing and learning to adapt to upcoming changes related to climate-change and sustainability reporting.  

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Financial Analysis

• Evaluate agribusiness financial statements, identify key ratios and metrics, utilize findings to make decisions.

Business Valuations

• Critically examine a business’s assets, earnings (EBITDA), cash flow, and other factors to determine the value of a business for purchase, sale, and/or financing.
• Utilize enterprise value, discounted cash flow as well as asset values to calculate the value of a business.

Financing the Agribusiness & Sustainable Finance

• Explore the various short-term and long-term sources of capital and capital requirements for a business., the role of debt, sub debt, VC, and other financing sources.
• Discover how sustainable finance is being used in the market today and planned for the future, how banks and agribusinesses are working together to achieve the common goal of reduced emissions.

Production Management & Sustainable Leadership

• Analyze various production management techniques (JIT, LEAN, vertical integration, etc.) and see these techniques during site visits.
• Learn about sustainable leadership from many successful business owners.

ASSESSMENT REPORT

Business Analysis & Valuation Presentation: Group Project: Objectives: students have the opportunity to utilize the tools learned in class and take a deep dive into a business, analyze it, determine a valuation, and recommend if they would or would not invest in the business.

REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS IN CLIMATE, FOOD & ENVIRONMENT

1. How is an agribusiness analyzed to make strategic decisions, to determine value, and ensure future sustainability?
2. How are firms, investors, and lenders going to tackle climate-change and sustainability together?

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Activity		Percent of Grade
Class & Site Visit Participation	Throughout the term	15%
Assignments (Best 5 of 6 assignments)	Throughout the term	20%
Midterm	View schedule online	20%
Group Presentation	View schedule online	20%
Final Exam	View schedule online	25%
Total:		100%