AREN is a group of researchers and educators who aim to strengthen the knowledge and skills of people operating in New Zealand's agricultural based value chains.

Agribusinesses face a complex and changing world. Business decisions need to be fully informed and new innovations need to be managed astutely.

AREN will build a stronger foundation for New Zealand's agribusiness by informing industry debate and enhancing management capability.

Agribusinesses are challenged by:

• The need to understand the performance of the whole system and not just focus on individual components.
• Customer and supplier relations when consolidating the value chain.
• Increasing complexity, such as the future impact of environmental issues.
• Connecting with large, international corporate customers in a changing world.

AREN can assist you with:

• Contributing to informed debate on New Zealand and global policies, trends and futures.
• Building agribusiness capability that blends skills in agricultural systems and business management.
• Research and development programmes that help in the development and adoption of new product and management innovations.

This will benefit you through:

• Improved access to international knowledge on topics such as: consumer trends, natural resource policies, agricultural production.
• More rapid adoption of new process and product innovations by management, staff, associated companies and consumers.
• Access to graduates, who have an understanding of business practice within the agricultural sector.

• Changes in international markets.
• Implications of trade restriction and quality assurance on chain management.
• How customer behaviour can trigger change in company behaviour.
• Getting the best from your people.

• Evaluation of optimal capital structures for operations in different situations.
• Extracting value all the way from farmer to consumer.
• Implications of biological developments in agribusiness.

• Impact of cultural diversity on business relationships.
• How to get innovations adopted by individuals and firms.
• Quantifying and managing risk throughout the value chain.