Kearney and Purdue University announce partnership to enhance agribusiness education and innovation

CHICAGO, March 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Kearney's agriculture and food team and Purdue University's Center for Food and Agricultural Business have established a partnership to bridge the gap and foster collaboration between academia and industry.

The goal of the partnership is to enhance agricultural research, strengthen industry engagement, and build connections with corporate clients and industry partners across the agriculture and food value chain. Key objectives include developing industry-relevant research, providing thought leadership and preparing students to become future industry leaders through experiential learning opportunities.

Initial discussions have focused on corporate partnerships, grower engagement, and the expansion of career pathways for undergraduate and graduate students through awareness initiatives and internships.

"This partnership between Purdue and Kearney represents an exciting opportunity to bring industry and academia together to tackle the real challenges agribusiness professionals face today," said Scott Downey, professor of agricultural economics and director of the Center for Food and Agricultural Business. "Kearney's deep industry knowledge, combined with Purdue's research expertise and global reputation, allows us to develop practical insights that help agribusiness leaders make better decisions and meaningful learning experiences that help prepare the next generation of industry leaders."

The partnership also reflects Kearney's ongoing commitment to the food and agricultural sector, which faces unprecedented challenges and opportunities ranging from dramatic shifts in consumer preferences, regulatory changes and the integration of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence.

"We are so excited to realize the potential of this partnership," said Rob Dongoski, partner and food and agribusiness leader at Kearney. "Purdue's history of leadership in agricultural education dates back to 1869, and Kearney will turn 100 years old next year," Dongoski said. "While a robust legacy demonstrates a tenured track record, this partnership is about creating lasting change and codesigning the future of agriculture and food. Both Purdue and Kearney have anchored their success in developing pragmatic tools and insights to affect real change. Purdue's deep research coupled with Kearney's focus on impactful change for our clients creates a combination that will benefit corporate clients and introduce outstanding young people to the world of agriculture and food consulting."

For more information on Kearney's agriculture and food expertise, visit this page. To learn more about Purdue's Center for Food and Agriculture Business, visit this page.

About the Purdue University Center for Food and Agricultural Business
The Purdue University Center for Food and Agricultural Business provides professional development, advanced degree programs and applied research for the agribusiness industry. Established in 1986, the center is part of Purdue's Department of Agricultural Economics and connects academic expertise with industry needs. Programs include open-enrollment workshops, custom training, and the MS-MBA in food and agribusiness management. The center also conducts research to support data-driven decision-making in food and agriculture. Learn more at https://agribusiness.purdue.edu.

About Kearney
Kearney is a leading global management consulting firm. For nearly 100 years, we have been a trusted advisor to C-suites, government bodies, and nonprofit organizations. Our people make us who we are. Driven to be the difference between a big idea and making it happen, we work alongside our clients to regenerate their businesses to create a future that works for everyone. Learn more at www.kearney.com.

About Purdue Agriculture
Purdue University's College of Agriculture is one of the world's leading colleges of agricultural, food, life and natural resource sciences. The college is committed to preparing students to make a difference in whatever careers they pursue; stretching the frontiers of science to discover solutions to some of our most pressing global, regional and local challenges; and, through Purdue Extension and other engagement programs, educating the people of Indiana, the nation and the world to improve their lives and livelihoods. To learn more about Purdue Agriculture, visit this site.

About Purdue University
Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 107,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 58,000 at our main campus in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue's main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its comprehensive urban expansion, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.

Media contacts: Meir Kahtan, [email protected]; Devyn Raver, [email protected]

SOURCE Kearney