Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation(Agri-Food Chains and Product Design)

1 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Queensland

Program Overview

The Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Agri-Food Chains and Product Design) at the University of Queensland is designed for students who want to turn ideas in agribusiness and food into innovative products, ventures and sustainable business solutions. The program combines agribusiness marketing, food innovation, sustainable supply chains and entrepreneurship, preparing students to address challenges such as food security, agri-tech and transformation across the food value chain.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students develop their innovation and entrepreneurial foundations through courses such as Creativity for Innovation and Design Thinking, Idea Management, Managing Innovation and Building Innovation Capability. Alongside these core courses, students can explore specialist areas including Agribusiness Value Chain Management, Food Sensory and Physical Assessment, Sustainable Food Supply Chains and Agribusiness Marketing, building a strong understanding of both product development and the wider agri-food system.

Year 2: Students deepen their leadership and strategic capabilities through Entrepreneurial Leadership and specialist courses such as Agrifood Strategy & Competitiveness, Food Safety & Quality Management or Food Sensory and Physical Assessment. The program culminates in Lean Start Up for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, where students apply the Lean LaunchPad approach, work with their own ideas or technologies from partner organisations, and develop a viable business model through customer interviews, rapid prototyping and agile development.

Focus areas:

Agri-food innovation, agribusiness marketing, food product development, sustainable food supply chains, agribusiness strategy, entrepreneurship, innovation management, food security, agri-tech and commercialisation.

Learning outcomes:

Graduates develop the ability to identify and test innovative opportunities, manage innovation, develop products and services, build business models, lead entrepreneurial initiatives and apply strategic thinking to complex agri-food challenges. The program also develops practical skills in customer discovery, rapid prototyping and agile development.

Professional alignment (accreditation):

The program is an AQF Level 9 master's qualification and is designed around contemporary entrepreneurship, innovation and agri-food industry needs. UQ also provides an optional industry placement and an industry consultancy/research pathway, strengthening the connection between academic learning and professional practice.

Reputation (employability rankings):

UQ reports that it ranks 1st in Queensland for business and management studies in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and 3rd in Australia for business and economics in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026. The university also highlights its global leadership in food and agriculture as a foundation for this specialised field.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Agri-Food Chains and Product Design) at the University of Queensland is strongly focused on turning ideas into practical food and agribusiness ventures. Students develop hands-on capabilities in food innovation, sustainable supply chains, agribusiness marketing, product development and entrepreneurship, using workshops, fieldwork and real-world projects to connect business concepts with the agri-food industry.

The program’s practical experiences include:

Lean Startup project: EIBS7311 – Lean Start Up for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) capstone where students apply the Lean LaunchPad approach to their own ideas or real-world technologies from partner organisations. Activities include customer interviews, rapid prototyping, agile development and creating a viable business model.
Agribusiness value-chain fieldwork: AGRC7050 – Agribusiness Value Chain Management can involve students physically following food products through the supply chain—from supermarkets to producers—to examine quality, labelling, pricing, packaging, display and supply-chain practices.
Product assessment: FOOD7025 – Food Sensory and Physical Assessment gives students practical exposure to assessing food products using sensory and physical characteristics, supporting product-development skills.
Sustainable supply-chain projects: MGTS3968 – Sustainable Food Supply Chains allows students to investigate the management and sustainability challenges associated with food supply chains.
Agribusiness marketing: MKTG7961 – Agribusiness Marketing develops practical understanding of marketing within agricultural and food businesses, complementing the product-development and commercialisation focus of the field.
Innovation and design workshops: EIBS7300 – Creativity for Innovation and Design Thinking and EIBS7301 – Idea Management develop practical skills for generating, evaluating and developing innovative ideas.
Industry collaboration: UQ's Agri-Food Innovation Alliance connects researchers, students and agri-food businesses, with projects designed to translate research into commercially viable products and sustainable production methods. Its industry network covers areas including horticulture, dairy, beef, poultry, viticulture, broadacre cropping and seafood.
Industry placements: Through UQ's agri-food initiatives, students can gain workplace experience with industry partners and contribute to projects involving agriculture, food science, business, environment, marketing, engineering and IT.
Innovation ecosystem: Students can access UQ's broader network of mentors, innovation hubs and accelerator programs, including UQ Ventures, supporting the development and commercialisation of new ideas.
Research-to-industry facilities: The UQ Agri-Food Innovation Alliance supports facilities where UQ researchers and students can work with industry-based infrastructure, helping translate research and innovation into commercial applications.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Agri-Food Chains and Product Design) at the University of Queensland prepares graduates to turn agricultural and food-sector challenges into commercially viable products, ventures and sustainable supply-chain solutions. The program can lead to roles spanning agribusiness, food innovation, supply-chain management, product development and entrepreneurship, with UQ specifically identifying careers such as supply chain analyst, supply chain manager, product development technologist and startup founder.

Typical career opportunities include:

Supply Chain Manager — UQ lists an average annual salary range of AUD $130,000–$150,000.
Regulatory Affairs Manager — UQ lists an average annual salary range of AUD $150,000–$170,000.
Product Development Technologist
Sustainable Food Production Specialist
Startup Founder

Career progression is supported through:

Careers and Employability: UQ provides career development support, employment opportunities, internships, mentoring, workshops and resources to help students develop professional capabilities and prepare for the job market.
Work-integrated learning: The program's EIBS7311 Lean Start for Entrepreneurship and Innovation capstone gives students practical experience using the Lean LaunchPad approach, including customer interviews, rapid prototyping, agile development and business-model creation. Students can work with their own ideas or real-world technologies from partner organisations.
Professional placement: RBUS7999 provides a work-integrated learning opportunity through a professional placement within an existing business, helping students develop workplace knowledge, employability skills and professional networks.
Industry engagement: UQ's Careers and Employability service provides opportunities to connect with professionals through Industry Talks, panel presentations and networking activities, helping students understand employer expectations and build industry networks.
Entrepreneurship ecosystem: UQ Ventures supports students through workshops, hackathons, pitch nights, mixers and 24/7 co-working spaces. Its ilab Accelerator has supported more than 230 startup companies, providing an especially relevant pathway for students who want to commercialise an agri-food idea.
Industry-connected innovation: The program's capstone can involve real-world technologies from partner organisations, allowing students to work on authentic innovation problems rather than relying solely on classroom exercises.
Strong business reputation: UQ's Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation page identifies UQ as #1 in Queensland for Business and Management Studies in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and #3 in Australia for Business and Economics in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026.
Further career flexibility: Beyond the agri-food pathway, the broader Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation develops capabilities relevant to innovation leadership, business development, growth and operations, product management, marketing and sustainability consulting, allowing graduates to move between agriculture, food, technology and broader innovation sectors.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can progress to further research or doctoral study where eligible, particularly if they want to investigate advanced topics in agri-food innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainable supply chains or product development. The master's also provides a strong foundation for continuing professional development through UQ's entrepreneurship, research and industry networks.