Dr Willem Hoffmann specialises in conducting multidisciplinary studies on the design and improvement of sustainable farming and management systems. Focus areas include farm management, financial management, risk management and the financial planning of farm business systems. I have a keen interest in integrating expert knowledge into systems analysis to improve outcomes.
Dr Willem de Lange
Dr Willem de Lange teaches environmental and resource economics and manages the department’s final-year research project. Willem joined Stellenbosch University’s Department of Agricultural Economics in 2022, where he draws on 15 years of professional scientific research experience gained at the CSIR to support students in exploring and developing their potential to become environmentally responsible members of society. He does this by combining social and natural sciences to find innovative ways of incentivising pro-environmental behavioural change in the use of natural resources within economies.
Dr Melissa van der Merwe
Dr Melissa van der Merwe specialises in value chain, institutional and consumer and market analysis in high-value agricultural sectors. She draws strongly on applied and interdisciplinary methods, including qualitative research, systems thinking, social network analysis, and institutional analysis, to support both industry-facing research and student learning. Melissa teaches undergraduate and postgraduate modules in financial management, production economics, marketing, supply chain management, and wine marketing, and supervises postgraduate research in these fields.
Dr Cecilia Punt
Dr Cecilia Punt’s research interests lie in international trade and policy analysis within a general equilibrium framework. Her work examines how trade and policy interventions affect markets and economies as interconnected systems. She lectures on National and International Market Analysis (Econometrics), International Trade and Marketing, and General Equilibrium Models for Policy Analysis, teaching both undergraduate and postgraduate students to apply quantitative and theoretical tools to real-world trade and policy questions.
Prof Eric Dada Mungatana
Prof Eric Dada Mungatana is Editor-in-Chief of Agrekon, the official publication of the Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa, and a board member of the African Society for Ecological Economics and a former board member of the International Society for Ecological Economics. He sits on the advisory board of the Ambio journal. He is an AERC Group E (agriculture, climate change and natural resource management) resource person and a member of the NRF specialist committee on Economics, Management, Administration, and Accounting. He served as lead author for Chapter 6 of the global assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services of IPBES (Deliverable 2c), and as a technical advisor to the (i) Global Water Partnership, (ii) United Nations Development Programme on the Economics of Climate Change Adaptation capacity-building programme in Asia, and (iii) Ecosystem Services Economics Unit, Division for Environmental Policy Implementation, United Nations Environmental Program, Nairobi (Kenya). He is a C2 NRF-rated scientist and currently leads a research direction on the socioeconomic impacts of remediated acid mine drainage water in South Africa (with the Universities of Copenhagen and Wits). At Stellenbosch University, he teaches production economics and environmental and resource economics to postgraduate students. He also supervises postgraduate research in causal identification strategies for impact assessment, discrete choice methods for non-market valuation (discrete choice experiments, Q-methodology, best-worst scaling), modelling production choices, natural resources accounting, and the economics of water resources management.
Prof André Jooste
Prof André Jooste’s research focuses on international trade, competitiveness, and policy analysis. He lectures in Agricultural Policy and has also taught International Trade and Marketing, helping undergraduate and postgraduate students apply analytical tools to real-world trade and policy issues. Known for his lateral and holistic thinking, he combines strategic vision with attention to detail to navigate complex challenges and identify practical solutions. He has facilitated industry-wide strategies, conducted surveys and value chain analyses, and brings valuable practical industry experience into the classroom.
(BCom) Management Sciences with Agricultural Economics
General Information
The BCom Management Science degree with Agricultural Economics as a focal area is a 3-year degree offered by the Economics and Management Sciences Faculty. Agricultural Economics is an interdisciplinary field that entails studying the application of economic and management sciences to the production and marketing of agricultural and food products. Agricultural Economics unlocks professional occupations in the growing domestic and international agricultural and food industries. This degree will equip you for sought-after professional occupations, including general management, financial management and logistical management in the entire food value chain, from agricultural input delivery, financial services, agribusinesses involved in production, distribution and marketing to food processing and production businesses.
Admission requirements:
An average performance level of 65% in the NSC or IEB’s school-leaving certificate (excluding Life Orientation), or other school qualification
English or Afrikaans (Home Language or First Additional Language) – 4 (50%)
English or Afrikaans (Home Language or First Additional Language) – 4 (50%)
Mathematics – 5 (60%)
DSc in Agricultural Economics
General Information
For the DSc degree advanced original research and/or creative work in Agricultural Economics and Management is required. Additionally, original, and previously published work(s) of a high standard are required that show that you have made a real and exceptional contribution to the enrichment of the knowledge base in Agricultural Economics and Management. An oral examination may be required of you.
PhD in Agricultural Economics and Management
General Information
The programme focuses strongly on research and is designed to develop high-level skills in the use of Agricultural Economic and Agricultural Management techniques, including the analysis of the limitations and potential of the agricultural sector, in students who wish to become agricultural economists or management experts in the private or public sector. This expertise is necessary to ensure the international competitiveness of South African agricultural and related industries, and to enable South Africa to play its rightful role in the development of the agricultural sector in Africa. The PhD degree programme is a three-year degree programme that could be extended to four years.
MScAgric Agricultural Economics and Management
General Information
After completion of the BScAgric degree in Agricultural Economics and Management you will be able to apply for admission to the degree MScAgric Agricultural Economics and Management. The programme consists of one year of coursework and you will be required to attend classes daily. The second year will be dedicated to a research component which is designed to develop your ability to undertake independent research in terms of problem-solving, multidisciplinary approaches and scientific scholarship. The research component focuses on the management of agriculture related industries and agricultural economic analysis, and the specific research problem will be developed in collaboration with your supervisor. The MScAgric degree programme is structured over two years with most of our students graduating in the third year.
MAgric Agri-business Management
General Information
After completion of the degree BAgricHons you can apply for admission to the degree MAgric Agri-business Management. The degree programme is structured around a research component and is designed to develop your ability to undertake independent research in terms of problem-solving, multidisciplinary approaches and scientific scholarship. The research component focuses on the management of agriculture-related industries and agricultural economic analysis, and the specific research problem will be developed in collaboration with your supervisor. The MAgric degree programme is structured over two years with most of our students graduating at the end of the second year
BAgricHon Agri-business Management
General Information
After completion of the BAgric degree you can apply for admission to the degree BAgricHon Agri-business Management. The degree programme consists of one year of course work that includes more advanced courses that you can select from: farm financial management, strategic management, supply chain management, agricultural policy, international trade, institutional economics, environmental economics, and production economics. In addition to these courses you will also have to complete a research project. The programme is designed to equip prospective expert agricultural managers and agricultural economists. After the successful completion of the programme you will be able to analyse more complex problem situations and to create more sophisticated farming or agribusiness systems and/or make sophisticated agricultural policy recommendations
BScAgric Agricultural Economic Analysis and Management with Food Science
General Information
The BScAgric Agricultural Economic Analysis and Management with Food Science degree programme is a 4-year programme and is suited to the student that is interested the applications of financial management to the food sector. Students will do an array of modules including biology, chemistry, food science animal production, soil science, agronomy, horticulture, crop protection, business management, economics, accounting, financial management, entrepreneurship and innovation management, marketing management, investment management, logistics and supply chain management, strategic management, and agricultural economics. In the final year students will specialise in agricultural economics, food science and economics, or financial management or food process engineering or logistics and supply chain management to allow them to pursue careers as economic analysist or managers in the food sector.
Admission requirements:
An average performance level of 60% in the NSC or the IEB’’’s
school-leaving certificate (excluding Life Orientation), or other
school qualification
English or Afrikaans (Home Language or First Additional Language) – 4 (50%)
Mathematics – 5 (60%)
Physical Sciences (Physics and Chemistry) – 4 (50%)
BScAgric Agricultural Economics with Food Science
General Information
The BScAgric Agricultural Economics with Food Science degree programme is a 4-year programme and is suited to the student that is interested in economic and policy analysis with in the food sector. Students will do an array of modules including biology, chemistry, food science, animal production, soil science, agronomy, horticulture, crop protection, accounting, financial management, logistics and supply chain management, transport economics, and agricultural economics. In the final year students will specialise in agricultural economics, food science and financial management or food process engineering or logistics and supply chain management to allow them to pursue careers as economic analysist or managers in the food sector.
Admission requirements:
An average performance level of 60% in the NSC or the IEB’’’s school-leaving certificate (excluding Life Orientation), or other school qualification
English or Afrikaans (Home Language or First Additional Language) – 4 (50%)
Mathematics – 5 (60%)
Physical Sciences (Physics and Chemistry) – 4 (50%)
BScAgric Agricultural Economic Analysis and Management
General Information
The BScAgric Agricultural Economic Analysis and Management degree programme is a 4-year programme and is suited to the student that is interested in financial management. Students will do an array of modules including biology, chemistry, animal production, soil science, agronomy, horticulture, business management, economics, accounting, statistics, financial management, investment management, marketing management, logistics and supply chain management, and agricultural economics. In the final year students will specialise in agricultural economics, economics and a combination of investment, strategic and logistics management or investment, strategic and financial management, to allow them to pursue careers as managers in the agricultural sector.
Typical tasks that our graduates from this programme perform in the
public and private sector:
Buy, sell, and ship commodities all over the globe in the import and export markets. Trading commodities on stock exchanges such as the South African Futures Exchange (SAFEX).
Development of business, marketing, and value chain strategies.
Management of complex processes involving people, business-to-business relations, and overall value chains.
As an Agri-specialist visit farms and evaluate financing applications while providing continuous support. Evaluate the macroeconomic environment, new and emerging sectors and provide insights that are agriculture specific.
Knowledge of financial and farm management will allow you to manage the farm business financials, plan for future investments, access the necessary funding, attract investors, develop sales and marketing strategies, and leverage the international market.
Admission requirements:
An average performance level of 60% in the NSC or the IEB’s school-leaving certificate (excluding Life Orientation), or other school qualification
English or Afrikaans (Home Language or First Additional Language) – 4 (50%)
Mathematics – 5 (60%)
Physical Sciences (Physics and Chemistry) – 4 (50%)
BScAgric Agricultural Economic Analysis
General Information
The BScAgric Agricultural Economic Analysis and Management degree programme is a 4-year programme and is suited to the student that is interested in financial management. Students will do an array of modules including biology, chemistry, animal production, soil science, agronomy, horticulture, business management, economics, accounting, statistics, financial management, investment management, marketing management, logistics and supply chain management, and agricultural economics. In the final year students will specialise in agricultural economics, economics and a combination of investment, strategic and logistics management or investment, strategic and financial management, to allow them to pursue careers as managers in the agricultural sector.
Typical tasks that our graduates from this programme perform in the
public and private sector:
Develop and assist with the implementation of government policies and legislation for the food and agricultural sector. Support and capacity building for resource-poor farmers, business planning, extension, and training.
Conduct research on economically important topics to inform agricultural policy design and agribusinesses strategic decisions, or to inform on consumers’ behaviour, or the economic impact of new technological developments in the agricultural sector. Train the new generation of agricultural economists.
Buy, sell, and ship commodities all over the globe in the import and export markets. Trading commodities on stock exchanges such as the South African Futures Exchange (SAFEX)
Admission requirements:
An average performance level of 60% in the NSC or the IEB’s school-leaving certificate (excluding Life Orientation), or other school qualification
English or Afrikaans (Home Language or First Additional Language) – 4 (50%)
Mathematics – 5 (60%)
Physical Sciences (Physics and Chemistry) – 4 (50%)
BAgric Agri-business Management
General Information
The BAgric Agri-business Management degree programme is a 3-year programme, and is the brainchild of Prof Eckhart Kassier in 1978, which allows for a more applied agricultural economics degree that still have strong foundations in science. Students will do an array of modules including animal production, crop production, soil science, agronomy, horticulture, economics, statistics, logistics, accounting, business management, financial management, investment management, marketing management, strategic management, and agricultural economics. Graduates from this degree programme have stronger management acumen. We strongly encourage students to continue with a BAgricHons upon completion of the BAgric degrees to open more career opportunities.
Typical tasks that our graduates from this programme perform in the public and private sector:
Knowledge of financial and farm management will allow you to manage the farm business financials, plan for future investments, access the necessary funding, attract investors, develop sales and marketing strategies, and leverage the international market.
Development of business, marketing, and value chain strategies. Management of complex processes involving people, business-to-business relations, and overall value chains.
As an Agri-specialist visit farms and evaluate financing applications while providing continuous support. Evaluate the macroeconomic environment, new and emerging sectors and provide insights that are agriculture specific.
Admission requirements:
An average performance level of 60% in the NSC or the IEB’s school-leaving certificate (excluding Life Orientation), or other school qualification
English or Afrikaans (Home Language or First Additional Language) – 4 (50%)
Mathematics – 5 (60%)
Physical Sciences (Physics and Chemistry) – 4 (50%)
