Masterclass Serie: Commodity Trading 101
Sign up now!
Masterclass Series: Commodity Trading 101
FREE FOR ALL STUDENTS FROM ANY UNIVERSITY: Join the Masterclasses series: Commodity Trading 101. Curious about how global commodities are traded, analyzed, and turned into profit? Join this masterclass series and step into the world of commodity trading from the inside out. From understanding the business model of a trading house to building market views, managing risk, and generating P&L, this four-part series brings together top industry experts to guide you through the fundamentals, tools, and strategies of successful commodity trading. Whether you're a student, aspiring trader, or industry enthusiast, this is your gateway to mastering the core elements of a high-stakes, high-impact industry.
Receive a certificate of participation if you attend all masterclasses.
- Managing Complex Risks in Commodity Supply Chains: A Leadership Journey (Tue 18 Nov; 16:00–19:00)
Location: Theil CB-5
Commodity trading is, at its core, the art of managing risk. The global, physical nature of commodity supply chains makes this a uniquely complex challenge—one that demands strategic thinking, deep market understanding, and agile decision-making. In this masterclass, you’ll gain firsthand insights from industry leaders in the commodity trading industry. Through real-world case studies, they will explore the intricacies of risk management across agricultural supply chains and share how they navigated their own career paths in this dynamic and high-stakes field.
Speaker Profile: Robert Horster
Robert served as the global Sustainability Leader for Cargill’s Agriculture and Trading Enterprise and the Head of Environmental Markets until December 2024. Prior to these two roles, he led trading, sourcing and sustainability for Cargill’s global edible oils group. In parallel, he also served as Managing Director for Cargill’s oilseeds crush business in EMEA. Before that, he held regional trading roles in the company’s edible oils group. Between 2007 and 2012, Robert headed up Cargill's grain and oilseeds trading for Greater China and Korea, and subsequently energy trading for Asia. Before relocating to Asia, he was the commercial manager for Cargill’s oilseeds crush and animal feed ingredients activities in Benelux. In this capacity, he was involved in setting up non-GM supply chains for soybeans and served on the Kramer-commission, an advisory body to the Dutch government on sustainable biomass. Robert has served on the board of several organizations, including Tract, a pre-competitive digital venture for transparency in commodity flows; the Land Innovation Fund for Sustainable Livelihoods; and the Fats and Oils industry organization for The Netherlands (MVO). Currently, he is Senior Research Fellow at the Erasmus Commodity & Trade Centre at Erasmus University Rotterdam and strategic advisor to Meridia, a venture in sustainability data verification and validation, and CIED, an AgTech start-up.
Speaker Profile: Michiel van der Bom
Michiel van der Bom is a senior leader in global agribusiness with over 24 years at Cargill. Currently serving as VP Product Line Cocoa & Chocolate Europe – West Africa, he leads portfolio strategy across cocoa, chocolate, gourmet, and compound products, while overseeing sustainability initiatives and operations in origin countries.
Throughout his career, Michiel has held a series of strategic and commercial leadership roles, including Global Product Line Director Cocoa, Commercial Director Chocolate, and Trading Manager Tropical Oils. He has successfully led multi-national teams, managed P&Ls, developed global pricing and trading strategies, and driven growth across diverse product lines and geographies—from Europe to Southeast Asia.