This project collects data on different contractual arrangements for purchasing inputs and selling pigs and develops an extension to an existing systems dynamics model to assess economic resilience of pig farms.
Department: Applied Economics & Marketing
Supervised by: Simone Pfuderer
Pig farming is subject of large fluctuations in price and output, sometimes called the pork cycle. This is a challenging environment to run a successful, economically sustainable, business. Contracting arrangements for selling pigs and buying feed impact on the short- and long-term resilience of pig farms. Despite the importance of contract arrangements in this volatile economic environment, there is a gap in the literature regarding the contract arrangements UK pig farmers are using and their impact on the economic resilience of pig farms. In this project, the aim is to close this gap in the literature. The project starts with the collection of data both from secondary sources as well as primary data collections with key players in the supply chain. The data collected will then be used to design a module to extend an existing systems dynamics model of pig farming in the UK. The new module will include different contracting arrangements and will be used to analyse their impact on the economic resilience of pig farms. The existing model is developed as part of a larger project, PigSustain. The main focus of PigSustain is on the resilience of the UK pig industry to disease and external shocks such as feed price increases or changing trade barriers. PigSustain does not look specifically at contract arrangements but during the work on the project the role of contracting arrangements was identified as a knowledge gap.
• Collection of information on contracting arrangements of pig farmers through literature review and by phone and email contact with key players in the supply chain; • Summarising the information from the primary data collection and literature review • Based on literature review and data collection, propose the main contracting arrangements to be included in the new Stella module; •Designing and implementing an extension of the systems dynamics model using the Stella software to take into account contracting arrangement • Run a selection of scenarios using the extended model • Write up the scenario runs
Essential: Background or strong interest in agriculture and/or the food sector Excellent communication and organisational skills Good analytical skills or should be able to learn them quickly An interest in economic/business modelling Beneficial: Experience in farm and/or systems dynamics modelling Experience in data collection
This placement will allow the student to develop both transferable and research-specific skills. The student will develop a broad range of research skills in all stage of the research process, such as reviewing literature, primary data collection, categorisation of data, model development, carrying out scenario analysis using a systems dynamic model and writing up the results. The student will have the opportunity to gain a set of transferable skills such as team-working, independent learning and working, time-management, problem solving and report writing.
School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, Agriculture Building, Whiteknights Campus.
Flexible
Monday 15 June 2020 - Saturday 15 August 2020
The closing date to apply for this project is Monday 11th May at 5pm. Please submit a C.V and covering letter to s.pfuderer@reading.ac.uk. Applicants will be shortlisted after the closing date. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to interview.