Case Study
Renaissance Ag: Identifying the Who, How, and Where of Marketing a New Technology
Chanden Westover(a) and Tanner McCarty(a)
(a)Utah State University
JEL Codes: JEL Codes: Q12, Q13
Keywords: Feed, hydroponics, marketing, strategy, target market
Publish Date: February 23, 2024
Volume 6, Issue 2
View Full Article (PDF) | Request Teaching Notes/Supplemental Materials
Abstract
This case study explores the marketing decisions facing an agricultural technology company in Utah. Renaissance Ag recently developed a technology that converts shipping containers to hydroponic feed production systems. One shipping container produces 1.5 tons of livestock feed per day and requires less water compared to conventional agriculture. This technology has promise in a world food system being constantly forced to produce more with less. However, promoting adoption of new technologies in agriculture is always challenging. Renaissance Ag’s long-term viability is dependent upon efficiently channeling its limited marketing budget toward regions and agricultural sectors likely to receive the largest benefit from their technology. This case study challenges students to conceptualize and quantify the trade-offs associated with selling in different markets. It also has them consider impacts of different payment structures on equipment sales. The intended audience for this case is freshman and sophomore students in agribusiness and agricultural economic programs.
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