2021 VIRTUAL STUDENT CASE COMPETITION
CALL FOR TEAM APPLICATIONS

“It’s such a privilege to be involved with the IFAMA Student Case Competition. The ideas and visions applied to real world problems that come out during this intense competition underpin my belief in the next generation of agricultural leaders. They are the ones who will bring the agricultural innovations of tomorrow to the cutting edge of food and value chain sustainability. Supporting the talents and skill sets of these young leaders and watching them flourish is why Bayer sees the IFAMA student essay challenge and case competition as such engaging and valuable initiatives.                                                                                   — Ronald Guendel Gonzalez, Global Head Partnerships, Food Value Chain, BAYER

Since 2005, IFAMA has hosted the only International Student Case Competition for students and early career professional serving the agribusiness sector. It offers students and early career professionals a global stage to demonstrate their analytical and problem-solving skills, while giving their respective universities a venue to showcase the next generation of changemakers in the ag sector. (Learn more about the Student Case Competition).

TEAM COMPETITION AND STRUCTURE

IFAMA is pleased to announce that the 2021 Student Case Competition will occur virtually.

Teams may fall into one of three levels: undergraduate students; graduate students, or early career professionals. Early career professionals should be under 35-years old. Teams must be 3-5 members. 

The competition occurs in two stages: a preliminary and finalist round. Participating schools and institutions may register more than one team and at more than one level.

PRELIMINARIES ROUND 1:  14-15 MAY 2021

Competing teams will receive a complex case study of a real-world challenge. They will be asked to develop a creative report with a practice solution which communicates their perspective, analyses, and recommendations that will be evaluated by a panel of judges.

Teams will write a report, maximum of 5 pages (12pt font, single spaced), which contains the following: 

A maximum of four of the top undergraduate teams; two graduate teams; and two early career professional teams will be selected by the judges from each region (Americas; Europe-Africa; Oceania-Asia) to advance to the Finalist Round.

FINALS ROUND 2:  21-25 JUNE 2021

Each the final round, the teams will receive a challenge to solve and are expected to analyze the case, assess the problem, develop a solution, then create a PowerPoint presentation that they will present it before a panel of judges. The final round will occur regionally, and it will be livestreamed, during the week of the 2021 World Conference, 21-25 June. Each team will be allotted 30 minutes for the presentation, and the Q&A period. The judges will assign scores based on the prepared reports, presentations, and responses to the judges’ questions. Teams will not attend the presentations of other teams.

It is expected that all team members will speak and contribute equally to their team’s presentation. The presentation will be livestreamed. The panel of judges will assess each team presentation based on their written documents, presentation, and responses to the judges’ questions.

The winning teams will be recognized and announced during a livestreamed awards ceremony during the IFAMA 2021 World Conference.

APPLICATION

Each team must have at least one advisor (either academic or industry member of IFAMA) who can serve as the primary contact for the team. Students are expected to work independently of their advisor(s) during the competition.

The Team Registration Forms must be submitted by 30 April 2021. Upon acceptance of the application, a $250 deposit is required for each team application by 7 May; however, this fee is meant only to secure the team’s seat in the competition and the fee will be fully applied toward conference registration fees for the IFAMA 2021 Conference in June.

Undergraduate teams must be comprised of only undergraduates. Mixed teams are allowed among the graduate and young professional teams; however, the team must be primarily comprised of members within that category. Teams comprised of members from more than one institution are allowed.

A current IFAMA membership is required before team members can participate.

RELEVANT DATES

4  Jun  Teams advancing to the Finals are announced

21-25   Jun Finals Round & IFAMA World Conference-exact dates and times to be announced

  TBA   Jun Awards Ceremony and winners announced-exact dates and times to be announced

PRIZES

All participants will receive digital certification badges and paid conference registration fees to attend the IFAMA 2022 in-person event in Costa Rica. Additional prizes to be announced.

IFAMA 2021 STUDENT CASE COMPETITION COMMITTEE

Chair: Juan José Bolaños Herrera, CEO, Piñalbo
Co-Chair: Esteban R. Brenes, INCAE Business School
Members: Gerry Kouwenhoven, Netherlands

Melissa van Der Merwe, South Africa

Justin Mcnally, Canada

Pernilla Fajersson, Mexico 

QUESTIONS?

Please contact the 2021 SCC Organizer: Juan José Bolaños Herrera: at conference@ifama.org

DOWNLOADS 

STUDENT CASE COMPETITION TEAM CALL
APPLICATION FORM   Send completed team applications to: conference@ifama.org

REGISTRATION 

PAY TEAM DEPOSIT HERE