Hydroponic Business Start-Up Plan for Local Market

The project aims to develop a comprehensive social enterprise start-up plan for a micro-scale specialty agricultural production using hydroponic growing systems owned by MacEwan University and operated by students. The goals are to Provide students with business management and development, and agricultural experience. Serve local restaurants, grocery stores, and farmers' markets with fresh, high-quality, ultra-local produce and/or connect MacEwan community members with opportunities to grow their own food. Utilize proceeds to fund a student group or charity, and/or use part of the production to supply fresh food to local social-service agencies. Learners will apply their classroom knowledge of business planning, market analysis, and supply chain management to create a viable business model and plan. A special emphasis should be placed on creating a business that can be run by MacEwan students, and with high rates of turnover between years and degrees. The project will involve researching market demand, identifying potential customers, and designing an operational plan that includes production schedules, pricing strategies, and distribution methods. By completing this project, learners will gain practical experience in developing a start-up plan that aligns with sustainability goals and meets the needs of the local community.

MacEwan Sustainability Awareness Campaign

MacEwan University Sustainability hopes to enhance student engagement and awareness regarding sustainable practices and initiatives on campus. The goal is to develop and implement a targeted marketing plan that effectively communicates the importance of a specific sustainability topic or initiative, encouraging positive behavioral change among students. MacEwan Sustainability will be able to provide a budget for the campaign, with details to be determined based on the scope of the campaign. This campaign will build off survey data collected in Fall 2024 by the MARK 312 Marketing Research and Analysis class which will help the consultants to understand current student perceptions and behaviors related to sustainability. By analyzing the survey data alongside MacEwan Sustainability staff, the team will identify key areas where awareness is lacking and tailor messages to address one or more of these gaps. This project provides an opportunity for students to apply marketing principles learned in the classroom to a real-world scenario, focusing on sustainability communication strategies. The outcome will be a comprehensive marketing plan that can be implemented to foster a more sustainable campus culture.