What high paying careers could you get with a postgraduate degree in agricultural business?

Sponsored by Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore 

Continuously growing and constantly evolving, the food industry presents a wealth of exciting career opportunities for graduates.  

In Italy alone, the food sector creates 2.6 million job opportunities and is worth 25 percent of GDP, making it an attractive prospect for students looking to earn a high income.  

If you’re considering working in the food industry, you will benefit from studying a postgraduate degree in agricultural business – also known as agribusiness.  

Italy’s Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore offers a range of specialised food production and has 30 years of experience in graduate education in the field of agricultural and food economics and business. 

Read on to discover more about the different specialised food and viticulture postgraduate degrees on offer and the types of high-paying careers they could lead to. 

What careers can you get with a food-production postgraduate degree? 

Due to consistently high demand for professionals in the food industry, agribusiness graduates enjoy a high employment rate. There are a high number of well-paying jobs available across agriculture, manufacturing, food processing, wholesale, retail and food distribution. 

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore has three Master of Science degrees to choose from: agricultural and food economics; food processing: innovation and tradition; and livestock and agro-green innovation.  

Each of the university’s food-production focused postgraduate programmes are based in the university’s Cremona campus in Northern Italy. This brand-new campus is situated in a renovated 16th century monastery. Today, the area is covered in university buildings, high-tech labs and 20,000 square metres of open green space.  

Here are three types of specialised food production degrees on offer: 

Agricultural and Food Economics  

The MSc in Agricultural and Food Economics prepares students to analyse the agri-food system and operate in the various functional areas of businesses and organisations.  

Students will gain a detailed understanding of the different sectors of the agri-food system and the consumers of food products. You will analyse traditional problems relating to agricultural markets and food; deal with corporate and logistical problems that affect business functions and learn about the issues currently impacting agricultural and food production.   

This degree is designed for students looking to work in managerial positions in agri-food companies, professional positions in international organisations or research positions in universities. 

Typical careers for agricultural and food economics graduates include:  

• Marketing manager 
• Food consultant 
• Academic researcher 
• Sales manager 
• Economist in the food sector  

To prepare for management positions in global industries, students at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore will take part in a variety of interactive team-based business games, based on real-life business challenges. Cattolica’s programme has been certified by ASFOR – a prestigious recognition that acknowledges the school’s performance in preparing its students to take on the challenges of international agri-food systems. 

Food processing: innovation and tradition 

Food is at the heart of many of the world’s environmental, social and economic challenges. Reports by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, and EAT Lancet Commission warn the way we are currently producing and consuming food is unsustainable to meet the needs of a growing population. 

The MSc in Food Processing gives students the skills to generate new food products and modify existing products and processes, as well as finding affordable new ways to check and improve food quality, from conception to market.  

At the end of the programme, students will be proficient in developing and implementing waste management specifications and managing the circular economy approach in the food process.  

With this knowledge, graduates will be well placed to work as product developers in R&D groups of food companies or in management positions across different sections of the food industry.  

Typical careers for food processing: innovation and tradition graduates include: 

• Product developer in food companies  
• Product and innovation manager 
• Food production manager 
• Food safety specialist 

To boost their employability, students at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore can complete a placement year in the food industry as part of their course. The school’s extensive alumni network has helped it consolidate relationships with over 260 companies in Italy and around 40 international companies, providing students with numerous opportunities to gain industry experience.  

Students can also take advantage of the FoodLab: a research and service hub for companies in the agri-food sector, focusing on product and process innovation, food safety, environmental and economic sustainability, personnel training and management training. 

Livestock and Agro-Green Innovation  

The MSc Livestock and Agro-Green Innovation helps students tackle the challenges facing modern animal husbandry globally. The degree covers relevant topics including environmental impact, production efficiency, climate change, sustainability of production, and animal welfare. 

At Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, state-of-the-art technology is used to teach practical aspects of the course. Students can access high-tech laboratories for plants, animals and microorganisms’ observations, feed and food analysis and bioinformatics, as well as CERZOO: a unique experimental station fully equipped for precision agriculture, precision farming and precision feeding technologies. 

The MSc in Livestock and Agro-Green Innovation prepares students to work in managerial positions across multinational companies, as consultants for agricultural and feed companies and in a range of professional positions in international organisations.  

Typical careers for agro-green innovation graduates include: 

• Manager in livestock farms and feed industries 
• Managerial positions in agri-food corporations offering services to livestock farming 
• Managerial positions in professional associations linked to the livestock and agriculture
• Agricultural consultant