AG CAREERS
THE FUTURE IS NOW
IN-DEMAND AG CAREER FIELDS AND WHY THEY’RE IMPORTANT FOR BUSINESS BY CHARLES DERVARICS
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Factor in the aging agricultural workforce, demand for new products, and the goal of sustainable land use, and it’s no surprise that experts predict solid growth in key agriculture occupations. Through 2020, the United States will have 58,000 annual openings in agriculture, food, and renewable resources that require a bachelor’s degree, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Purdue University. Co-author Marcos Fernandez of Purdue said that points to college graduates having a choice of jobs. “It’s a great time to be part of agriculture. Students want to change the world but also want to enjoy doing it,” he said.
HOT JOBS LIST One area leading the way is food science, where jobs can range from quality control in a production plant to developing new products such as meatless meat or quality convenience
USDA FLICKR
With the world’s demand for food expected to surge by 2050 amid strong population growth, the future looks bright for college graduates with agriculture-related majors. But for those seeking to study food or plant science, water management or even business, there’s an added incentive: a chance to “do well” by doing good work. “Food is such a hot topic in our society, and it’s only going to get hotter with population growth worldwide,” said Michael Gaul, career services director at Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. From developing niche organic products to monitoring drones and other technologies in the field, it’s no longer the agriculture sector of yesteryear. “Students are coming out of here with great jobs,” he said, “and they can be at the forefront of all these new developments out in the market.” Estimates from the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization show that, by mid-century, the world population of 9.7 billion will need 70 percent more food than today.