Agriculture has been a crucial part of human development since time immemorial.
Contrary to popular belief, agriculture is more than just the growing of crops, harvesting them, and eventually feeding the people. In fact, there’s a lot more science behind it.
Understanding Agricultural Science Education
Agricultural science is most often offered as a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree. Thus, students are also expected to have a strong grasp of the natural sciences, especially biology and chemistry.
As a discipline, agricultural science refers to all things related to food, the theoretical and practical application of farming, plant and animal production, processing, animal and plant care, and even the business part of it, such as marketing, and management. In recent years, sustainability, the protection of the environment, and food insecurity have also become crucial parts of studying agriculture. So some students may be surprised that some programs may also include topics on environmental sustainability, economics, and public policy.
Lastly, agriculture has always been a practical endeavor. Thus, students should also expect a lot of hands-on training in their chosen program. In many institutions, students are required to at least allot a one-year internship or other hands-on training on a farm.
The Impact of Agricultural Science
No matter how common it sounds, food through the agriculture sector is always an important part of life. However, in recent years, food insecurity and other environmental issues have become more prevalent than it was in the past. For example, in 2018, it was estimated that 9.2% or around 1.9 billion people worldwide experience severe food insecurity.
Graduates of agricultural science have the opportunity to help in eradicating food poverty by researching solutions and innovations in farming, soil studies, self-sufficient production of food, and so on.
As a career, there are a lot of job opportunities that await graduates of agricultural science. These include jobs in food production, biotechnology, livestock, agribusiness, farming technology development, and even policy-making and consultancy work.
Top Institutions for Agricultural Science Education
According to the 2021 QS World University Rankings, the top institutions when it comes to agriculture, based on their academic reputation, research impact, and employer reputation are the following:
Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands is known as a leading university on food and environment. In fact, the Wageningen University currently offers more than 50 programs in different levels, focusing on healthy food and living environments, such as Bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences, Environmental Sciences, and Food technology, and Master’s degree in Bioinformatics, Climate Studies, and Biosystems Engineering.
The University of California, Davis in the US College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is renowned internationally due to its research reputation, academic standing, and diverse and active student community. Moreover, some of the majors it offers include Agricultural and Environmental Education, Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning, and Sustainable Agricultural and Food Systems.
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Sweden offers programs with a strong focus on a bio-based environment and economy, health, and life quality. Some of its programs include:
- Master of Science in Energy System
- Master of Science in Environmental and Water Engineering
- Sustainable development
Want to start your journey and have a career in agriculture? Browse through MSM Unify’s agricultural science programs to begin. Moreover, if you want to increase your chances of getting an agricultural career while studying, learn more about interning abroad, by checking out our article on How to Get Internship Abroad.
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