Cascadia Seaweed Corp. (Cascadia) was a vertically integrated regenerative aquaculture company based in British Columbia. Cascadia cultivated kelp on First Nation–owned ocean tenures and processed it into seaweed-based biostimulants and animal feed additives for the agricultural sector. In July 2025, cofounder and chief executive officer Michael Williamson faced a pivotal scaling decision. Following a CA$4 million Series A financing, the company was .....more

Spreadsheet to accompany product W47505.

ERTAGRO (ERT), a fruit wholesale distributor in Azerbaijan, was facing significant challenges in managing its banana ripening process. A partner at ERT struggled with either excess inventory leading to waste or insufficient ripe bananas resulting in lost sales. The company imported F-brand and L-brand bananas from Ecuador, each with different ripening times, and also offered ripening services to competitors. To address the issues, a consultant recommended .....more

In July 2017, TerrAscend Corp. (TerrAscend), a Canadian cannabis company, faced pivotal decisions as it prepared for legalization of recreational cannabis. Led by chief executive officer and cofounder Basem Hanna, the company had secured a cultivation license and launched Terra Health Network Inc. to build credibility with physicians. Yet, TerrAscend remained pre-revenue, with limited cash and growing competition. Hanna weighed four paths: maintaining .....more

Growcer Inc. (Growcer) was a Canadian manufacturer of plug-and-play modular farms. In a bid to scale up operations and make it easier for customers to mobilize the capital investment of CA$300,000 required to buy the company’s flagship product, the chief executive officer was examining two options: (1) partner with a Canadian commercial bank known for its small-business lending, entrepreneur-friendliness, and sustainable lending practices or (2) launch .....more

In late 2025, Northern Horizons Forestry, a 100 per cent Indigenous-owned Canadian forestry company, faced a severe external shock as escalating U.S. tariffs threatened the viability of its core lumber exports. The newly appointed CEO must respond to rising trade barriers, thin margins, and growing geopolitical uncertainty while remaining committed to Indigenous governance principles, environmental stewardship, and community employment. With a board .....more

In spring 2023, Willow Nurseries faced intensifying criticism after social media posts accused the company of selling invasive plants. Customer emails and in-store feedback echoed concerns about environmental harm, with some threatening a boycott unless the plants were removed. Emily Shaw, Willow’s director of marketing, was also contacted by a Toronto media outlet seeking comment, heightening reputational risk ahead of the nursery’s most profitable .....more

This case examines the experience of Ingenio Carmelita SA, a Colombian family-owned agro-industrial company, which embarked on an institutional transformation process to overcome a severe financial crisis in 2022. The case unfolds based on the reflections of the newly appointed general manager, who must balance pressures from members of the board of directors and upper management to deliver short-term financial results with his belief that stronger .....more

Fukushima Ouse Winery was established in October 2015 in the city of Koriyama, within the Fukushima prefecture (or province) of Japan, as part of regional recovery efforts following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. The winery produced a variety of beverages, including white, red, and rose wines, sparkling peach wine, apple cider, fruit liqueurs, and several juices, gaining recognition through multiple awards. Fukushima Ouse Winery was originally .....more

In October 2024, the managing director of Maha Farmers Producer Company Ltd. (MahaFPC), a second-tier farmer producer company (FPC) in Maharashtra, reflected on a decade of growth. With over 600 member FPCs and a successful public procurement model, the federation had become a leader in farmer-centric agribusiness. Yet, challenges remained—uneven member engagement, pressure to diversify, questions around board effectiveness, and the need for governance .....more