Issues in Supply Chain Management

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Issues in Supply Chain Management

This course is part of Agribusiness and Sustainable Food Production Economics Specialization

Instructors: Paul B. Stoddard

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

15 reviews

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

9 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

15 reviews

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

9 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Discuss the influence of trade policy and international relationships on food supply and demand.
Compare and contrast differences in world demand for food products between developing and developed countries.
Examine the impacts of compliance with environmental regulations on food supply chains.
Discuss future technologies that may influence issues in the supply chain of food and food products.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

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Assessments

6 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Agribusiness and Sustainable Food Production Economics Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

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There are 4 modules in this course

Learners in this course will examine global trade agreements -- including policies, barriers, and regulations -- of agricultural commodities, and discuss implications of world and economic disruptions on the food supply chain. Throughout this course, learners will also discuss issues of sustainability, technology, and the environment as it relates to the supply and distribution of food products.

This course is part of the College of ACES suite of online programs, including the graduate certificate, "Agribusiness and Sustainable Food Production Economics" that can be stacked toward an advanced degree in the College of ACES or the Gies College of Business. To learn more about online programs from the College of ACES and explore ways to apply your Coursera work toward a degree program at the University of Illinois, visit ACES Online at acesonline.illinois.edu.

In the course orientation, you will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course. In the second part of this module, you will explore global trade to identify the types of agricultural commodities, explain global trade policies and considerations specific to agricultural commodities, and examine the impact of global currencies on trade.

What's included

10 videos4 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

10 videos Total 26 minutes

Course Overview 4 minutes
Meet Your Instructor | Dr. Gary D. Schnitkey 2 minutes
Meet Your Instructor | Paul B. Stoddard 2 minutes
Meet Your Instructor | Ailie Elmore 2 minutes
Meet Your Instructor | Dr. Joana Colussi 3 minutes
Introduction 1 minute
Corn & Soybeans 3 minutes
Global Trade of Fruits, Vegetables, Coffee, and Cocoa 5 minutes
Currency Impacts on Trade 4 minutes
Module 1 Key Takeaways 1 minute

4 readings Total 65 minutes

Syllabus 10 minutes
Learn More About Flexible Learning Pathways 10 minutes
Updating Your Profile 10 minutes
The National Agricultural Law Center: Overview of International Trade 35 minutes

2 assignments Total 31 minutes

Orientation Quiz 1 minute
Module 1 Quiz 30 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

Getting to Know Your Classmates 10 minutes

In this module, you will describe the purposes and impacts of agricultural trade agreements and examine the barriers to global agricultural trade.

What's included

9 videos3 readings1 assignment

9 videos Total 34 minutes

Introduction 1 minute
Agricultural Trade 5 minutes
Free Trade 4 minutes
Food Labeling 4 minutes
Tariffs 3 minutes
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Requirements 3 minutes
Trade Disputes: WTO Basic Functions 5 minutes
Panel Discussion: Issues Related to Global Trade 8 minutes
Module 2 Key Takeaways 1 minute

3 readings Total 42 minutes

USDA: How the Removal of Tariffs Would Impact Agricultural Trade 15 minutes
Food for Thought: How Should We Secure Global Trade in Agriculture? 15 minutes
Global trade in food and agricultural products more than doubles in last two decades 12 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Module 2 Quiz 30 minutes

In this module, you will describe the growth of agricultural commodities in South America, examine implications of world and economic disruptions on the production and trade of commodities, and compare the demand for food products between developed and developing countries.

What's included

6 videos1 reading1 assignment

6 videos Total 19 minutes

Introduction 1 minute
Continued Growth of Agriculture in South America 4 minutes
Implications from World and Economic Disruptions 6 minutes
Supply Chain Issues in Africa 2 minutes
Sustainabilty Issues 3 minutes
Module 3 Key Takeaways 2 minutes

1 reading Total 14 minutes

Brazil’s Momentum as a Global Agricultural Supplier Faces Headwinds 14 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Module 3 Quiz 30 minutes

In this module, you will identify and describe the impact of technologies on food production, consumption, and demand. You will also discuss the opportunities and threats of feeding the world while also sustainably producing and distributing food and food products. At the conclusion of this module, you will be ready to complete the final assessment for the course and earn your Coursera certificate!

What's included

9 videos8 readings2 assignments

9 videos Total 33 minutes

Introduction 1 minute
Vertical Farming 4 minutes
Plant-based Meat & Milk 4 minutes
Lab-Produced Meat 5 minutes
Insect Proteins 3 minutes
Panel Discussion: Feeding the World vs. Sustainability Concerns 8 minutes
Module 4 Key Takeaways 2 minutes
Course Wrap-up 4 minutes
Global Agriculture and Supply Chains | Graduate Certificate Course 3 minutes

8 readings Total 91 minutes

Lab-grown Meat: The Science of Turning Cells into Steaks and Nuggets 16 minutes
Overview of the Meatless Meat Industry 10 minutes
Consumer Preferences and the Meatless Meat Industry 10 minutes
Factors Influencing the Expansion of Meatless Meat 15 minutes
The Livestock Industry’s Response to Meatless Meat 10 minutes
Congratulations! 10 minutes
Stack your Coursera coursework toward a Graduate Certificate 10 minutes
Get Your Course Certificate 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 120 minutes

Module 4 Quiz 30 minutes
Final Assessment | Quiz 90 minutes

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Instructors

Paul B. Stoddard

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

4 Courses 10,008 learners

Offered by

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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Reviewed on Jan 15, 2026

highly information-dense, very relevant for food industry professionals

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Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.