Job growth among agricultural and food scientists should be
faster than the average for
all occupations. Opportunities are expected to be
good over the next decade,
particularly in food science and technology and in agronomy.
Employment change. Employment of
agricultural and food scientists is expected to grow by 16 percent between 2008
and 2018, faster than the average for all occupations. Job growth will stem
primarily from efforts to increase the quantity and quality of food produced for
a growing population. Additionally, an increasing awareness about the health
effects of certain types of foods and the effects of food production on the
environment, will give rise to research into the best methods of food
production.
Emerging biotechnologies will continue to play a large role in agricultural
research, and applying these advances will provide many employment opportunities
for scientists. For example, they may use findings from genomics to create
agricultural products with higher yields and resistance to pests and pathogens.
New developments will also be used to improve the quality and safety of prepared
food products bought by consumers.
Agricultural scientists will also be needed to balance increased agricultural
output with protection and preservation of soil, water, and ecosystems. They
increasingly will help develop sustainable agricultural practices by creating
and implementing plans to manage pests, crops, soil fertility and erosion, and
animal waste in ways that reduce the use of harmful chemicals and minimize
damage to the natural environment. In addition, demand for biofuels—renewable
energy sources derived from plants—is expected to increase. Agricultural
scientists will be needed both to find new techniques for converting organic
material into usable energy sources and to find ways to increase the output of
crops used in these products.
Job growth for food scientists and technologists will be driven by the demand
for new food products and food safety measures. Food research is expected to
increase because of heightened public awareness of diet, health, food safety,
and biosecurity—preventing the introduction of infectious agents into herds of
animals. Advances in biotechnology and nanotechnology should also spur demand,
as food scientists and technologists apply these technologies to testing and
monitoring food safety.
Job prospects. Opportunities should be
good for agricultural and food scientists in almost all fields. Those with a
bachelor�s degree should experience very good opportunities in food science and
technology and in agronomy. Those with a master�s or Ph.D. degree in
agricultural and food science will also experience good opportunities, although
positions in basic research and teaching at colleges and universities are
limited.
Many people with bachelor's degrees in agricultural sciences also find work
in positions related to agricultural or food science, rather than in jobs as
agricultural or food scientists. A bachelor's degree in agricultural science is
useful for managerial jobs in farm-related or ranch-related businesses, such as
farm credit institutions or companies that manufacture or sell feed, fertilizer,
seed, and farm equipment. In some cases, people with a bachelor's degree can
provide consulting services or work in sales and marketing—promoting high-demand
products such as organic foods. Bachelor's degrees in agricultural science also
may help people become farmers, ranchers, and agricultural managers;
agricultural inspectors; or purchasing agents for agricultural commodity or farm
supply companies.
Employment of agricultural and food scientists is relatively stable during
periods of economic recession. Layoffs are less likely among agricultural and
food scientists than in some other occupations, because food is a staple item
and its demand fluctuates very little with economic activity.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,
Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition
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