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2019 marks the 20th year of Rabobank’s Executive Development Program, with over 600 of Australia and New Zealand’s most progressive farmers graduating from the program over the past two decades. Applications for this year’s intake are open until April 26.

Developed specifically for primary producers looking to take their business to the next level, the Executive Development Program (EDP) caters for experienced business owners or senior managers.

Rabobank Australia CEO Peter Knoblanche said in the 20 years the program has been running, it was perhaps “more important now, than ever, for farming businesses to invest in their ‘human capital’”.

“While it is a good time to be in agriculture, with opportunities continually opening up with improved market access and increased investment in the sector, there are also many mounting pressures,” Mr Knoblanche said. “These include climate challenges presented by drought and other recent weather events and natural disasters. And from a macro level, there are signs the global economy is starting to decelerate – particularly in China – which could have significant flow-on effects on the Australian ag sector.”

“While it is impossible to future-proof farming businesses from extreme weather events such as the devastating floods in north-west Queensland, many external risks can be managed if not mitigated through strategic long-term planning – with the program covering topics such as financial and risk management, strategies for growth, negotiation, leadership, communication and innovation.”

Mr Knoblanche said the Executive Development Program – which has been likened to a mini-MBA – was highly interactive and had significant emphasis on the direct application of the learnings back into the business. “And being a residential program, the participants have the opportunity to build a strong network of likeminded farmers from across Australia and New Zealand,” he said.

The Executive Development Program, which runs as two modules (a year apart) will be held at the Macquarie Graduate School of Management in Sydney. The first module will run from 25 to 30 August 2019, with the second scheduled from 19 to 24 July 2020.

In June, Rabobank will also be running its Farm Managers Program (FMP), developed for younger farmers looking to enhance their management capabilities. Applications for this year’s FMP have recently closed, however expressions of interest can be made by emailing [email protected].

Further information and applications for both programs can be found at:   https://www.rabobank.com.au/agribusiness/business-management-programs/.