AEAB Atlantis Program Students Spend Summer Abroad While Completing Case Studies

The U of A Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness has sent Atlantis Program master's students to study in Europe this summer.  

The Atlantis Program offers a double degree in agricultural economics and rural development. It trains specialists in comparative analysis of United States and European Union policies through a two-year program. Graduates earn an M.S. in agricultural economics from the U of A and an international M.S. in rural development from the European consortium, which includes Ghent University (Belgium), The Agro Institute (France), Humboldt University of Berlin (Germany), the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra (Slovakia) and the University of Pisa (Italy). 

Atlantis student Kylie Roesler worked on her "Food and Innovation in Rural Transition: The Tuscany Case" in Italy this summer. This program was hosted by the University of Pisa, where she worked alongside International Master's in Rural Development (IMRD) colleagues from around the world in rural Garfagnana.  

"I was honored to contribute by presenting policy recommendations on the 'economic viability and socio-cultural suitability of small farms,'" Roesler said. "Going abroad for the Atlantis Program gave me the opportunity to explore Europe, which I am very grateful for." 

The casework consisted of a collection of local focus groups, lectures from various universities and agribusiness tours such as production farms agrotourism, production farms, restaurants and a national park. Students collaborated on different avenues of understanding the agricultural production and policies of Garfagnana for the sustainability of production and economic viability while respecting local gastronomy. This ended with a presentation to the community on what they learned from their practices and recommendations for improving agribusiness. 

Also working on a case study for the Atlantis Program, Jenika Hazelbaker, a student of the program, spent her summer in Nitra, Slovakia, at the Slovak University of Agriculture. Her case study focused on findings and recommendations for sustainable development in the Nitra region. 

Students representing eight countries traveled around the region for four weeks to analyze the local trademark system, which recognizes quality agricultural and handicraft products and tourism services in Slovakia. Through several discussions with producers using local trademarks and other stakeholders, they were able to identify strengths of the current system and ways to improve regional development in Slovakia with producer well-being at the forefront. 
Their final report and presentation were shared with the Nitra Region Destination Management Organization, as well as the Nitra Tourist Board, to help support their mission of supporting producers and service providers while generating economic growth in the region.  

"I have greatly appreciated my time in Slovakia and getting to learn from my IMRD peers, facilitators and local representatives," Hazelbaker said. "This experience would not have been possible without the faculty and staff at SUA, external collaborators and local producers. I will always cherish the memories, people and learning experiences from the past month."