Supply Chain of Agriculture
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Supply Chain of Agriculture
This course is part of Agribusiness and Sustainable Food Production Economics Specialization
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What you'll learn
Discuss the uses of agricultural land and describe the farm production cycles.
Explain the supply chain of agriculture from input supply to final consumer.
Examine the roles of consumer demand, economics, and technology on agriculture and the food supply chains.
Skills you'll gain
- Supply Chain
- Production Management
- Land Management
- Technology Solutions
- Food and Beverage
- Emerging Technologies
- Production Process
- Environment and Resource Management
- Transportation, Supply Chain, and Logistics
- Production Planning
- Market Dynamics
- Supply Chain Management
- Consumer Behaviour
- Economics
- Supply And Demand
- Resource Utilization
- Supply Chain Systems
- Supply Chain Planning
- Environmental Issue
Details to know
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There are 4 modules in this course
Learners will be introduced to the production and distribution of agricultural commodities and food products. Topics will cover the full range of the agriculture supply chain, from pre-farm to the consumer, to provide students with a better understanding and appreciation for where and how crops and livestock are produced, and the systems used to distribute products to consumers. As a result of completing this course, learners will be able to describe the global nature of food chains from input supply to final consumer and explain the important drivers of demand for food products throughout the world.
This course is part of the College of ACES suite of online programs, including the graduate certificate, "Agribusiness and Sustainable Food Production Economics" that can be stacked toward an advanced degree in the College of ACES or the Gies College of Business. To learn more about online programs from the College of ACES and explore ways to apply your Coursera work toward a degree program at the University of Illinois, visit ACES Online at acesonline.illinois.edu.
In the course orientation, you will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course. In the second part of this module, you will describe the uses of agricultural land, and explain the varied ways agricultural producers use land to produce food and food products.
What's included
14 videos5 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt
14 videos•Total 44 minutes
- Course Overview•4 minutes
- Meet Your Instructor | Dr. Gary D. Schnitkey•2 minutes
- Meet Your Instructor | Paul Stoddard•2 minutes
- Meet Your Instructor | Ailie Elmore•2 minutes
- Meet Your Instructor | Dr. Joana Colussi•3 minutes
- Introduction to Supply & Use of Agricultural Products•1 minute
- Panel Discussion: Trends and Production of Grains & Oil Seeds•4 minutes
- Fruits and Vegetables•3 minutes
- Pasture Land•4 minutes
- Panel Discussion: Pasture Land•7 minutes
- Agricultural Land Use Around the World•3 minutes
- What is Livestock Production?•3 minutes
- Panel Discussion: Livestock•5 minutes
- Module 1 Key Takeaways•1 minute
5 readings•Total 145 minutes
- Syllabus•10 minutes
- Learn More About Flexible Learning Pathways•10 minutes
- Updating Your Profile•10 minutes
- USDA: Major Uses of Land in the United States•45 minutes
- World Agriculture Towards 2030/2050 •70 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
- Orientation Quiz•30 minutes
- Module 1 Quiz•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
- Getting to Know Your Classmates•10 minutes
In this module, you will describe the agricultural supply chain, define agricultural commodities, and explain farm production cycles.
What's included
9 videos3 readings1 assignment
9 videos•Total 36 minutes
- Introduction•1 minute
- What is an Agricultural Commodity?•4 minutes
- Corn & Soybeans•3 minutes
- Wheat, Rice, & Other Starches•3 minutes
- Fruit and Vegetable Production•3 minutes
- Panel Discussion: Trends in the Consumption and Production of Commodities•9 minutes
- Farm Production Cycle in South America•4 minutes
- Panel Discussion: Agricultural Supply Chain (Commodities)•7 minutes
- Module 2 Key Takeaways•2 minutes
3 readings•Total 57 minutes
- USDA Agri-Food Supply Chain Assessment: Program and Policy Options for Strengthening Resilience•35 minutes
- Optional: The Economics and Organization of Brazilian Agriculture: Recent Evolution and Productivity Gains•2 minutes
- Interdependence of China, United States, and Brazil in Soybean Trade•20 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
- Module 2 Quiz•30 minutes
In this module, you will define agricultural inputs, describe the historical change of farm production inputs, examine the impact of precision agriculture and technology on global food production, and explain Cochrane's Treadmill Theory.
What's included
9 videos4 readings1 assignment
9 videos•Total 34 minutes
- Introduction•2 minutes
- The Green Revolution•4 minutes
- Precision Agriculture & Digital Agriculture•3 minutes
- Panel Discussion: Labor vs. Machinery•6 minutes
- Technological Change in Machinery•5 minutes
- Grain Logistics in Brazil•4 minutes
- U.S. Agricultural Sector Size & Capital Structure •6 minutes
- Cochrane's Treadmill Theory•3 minutes
- Module 3 Key Takeaways•1 minute
4 readings•Total 33 minutes
- Investments in Brazilian Grain Transportation Shrink U.S. Logistical Advantage•8 minutes
- Optional: The Innovation Revolution in Agriculture: A roadmap to value creation•2 minutes
- Historical Corn Grain Yields in the U.S.•15 minutes
- Crop Production in Brazil Outpaces Storage Capacity•8 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
- Module 3 Quiz•30 minutes
In this module, you will discuss the consolidation of the agricultural industry, explain soil and land productivity, examine the connection between productivity and food insecurity, and discuss environmental concerns of agriculture. At the conclusion of this module, you will be ready to complete the final assessment for the course and earn your Coursera certificate!
What's included
11 videos4 readings2 assignments
11 videos•Total 47 minutes
- Module 4 Introduction•1 minute
- Panel Discussion: Consolidation in the Industry•16 minutes
- Soil Productivity•4 minutes
- Panel Discussion | Land Productivity•4 minutes
- Food Insecurity Issues•3 minutes
- Environmental Concerns in Agriculture•3 minutes
- Environmental Concerns from the Perspective of the Consumer•4 minutes
- Animal Agriculture & Environmental Concerns•3 minutes
- Module 4 Key Takeaways •1 minute
- Course Wrap-up•5 minutes
- Global Agriculture and Supply Chains | Graduate Certificate Course•3 minutes
4 readings•Total 42 minutes
- "Three Decades of Consolidation in U.S. Agriculture "•12 minutes
- Congratulations!•10 minutes
- Stack your Coursera coursework toward a Graduate Certificate•10 minutes
- Get Your Course Certificate•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 120 minutes
- Module 4 Quiz•30 minutes
- Final Assessment | Quiz•90 minutes
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Instructors
Explore more from Business Strategy
- Status: Free TrialU
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
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- Status: PreviewT
Technical University of Munich (TUM)
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- Status: Free TrialU
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Course
- Status: Free TrialU
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Course
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Reviewed on Jan 15, 2026
gives a comprehensive overview to agriculture especially in the US Ag-industry.
Reviewed on Jan 18, 2025
This was very insightful, I learned a lot and hope it will help me further my education in Agriculture and help me get back to the States on an H2A Visa.
Reviewed on Jul 26, 2025
very good course to understanding the supply chain of agriculture
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