Cash Crops

Harvest Holdings: Game Overview 

Cash Crops is an interactive simulation game where players act as food entrepreneurs running a hydroponics agricultural business over five rounds of play. Participants manage cash flow, invest in crop cycles (lettuce, basil, cucumbers, and tomatoes), hedge financial risk using crop insurance or fixed-price contracts, and react to real-time market shifts driven by supply and demand. Additionally, players can consult the board by answering Business Model Canvas (BMC) knowledge cards to earn investor grants, teaching core concepts in market strategy, value propositions, resource management, and financial planning. The player with the most sustainable, high-earning operation at the end of five rounds wins.

Connection to Learner-Centered Teaching (LCT) 

This game exemplifies LCT by shifting the focus from passive instruction to active, experiential learning.

• Connects technical STEM principles of controlled-environment agriculture and hydroponic system management with practical, real-world application.  

• Directly applies the Business Model Canvas (BMC) framework, guiding learners through value creation, customer segments, distribution channels, cost structures, and revenue streams.  

• Engages players in critical decision-making regarding operational expenses, price hedging, insurance protection, and adapting to volatile market trends.  

• Blends gamified decision-making with reflective accounting practices using integrated tracking worksheets to record expenses, earnings, and net income.  

Game Creators & Contact Information

For questions regarding the Cash Crops game or implementation, please contact the creators:

• Dr. Neil Knobloch — Professor, Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Purdue University | nknobloc@purdue.edu  

• Emmanuel Obielodan — Doctoral Fellow, Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Purdue University | eobielod@purdue.edu