Feeding 8-billion people is no easy feat – and as the global population approaches this threshold, the demand for food and agricultural products only continues to increase. Agriculture technician support improved farm efficiency, productivity and sustainability by conducting experiments and coordinating the operation of farming fields. Agriculture technicians are problem solvers – they set up and maintain lab equipment, collect crop and/or animal samples, record data, research and analyze findings. To address the ongoing challenges both locally and globally, agricultural technicians’ ongoing research and implementation is critical.
We live on a truly miraculous planet – the perfect combination of breathable air, liquid water and the only known home to living organisms. Biologists study Earth’s life in all its forms, from bacteria to horses and everything in between. They seek to understand how living things came to exist, how they function, what they do, and how they’re impacted by external factors. Because of biologists, we have a better understanding of the planet we call home.
Biological technicians are the glue that holds the lab together. Acting as assistants to scientists and biologists, they carry out a variety of tasks – preparing specimens, assisting with experiments and compiling data.
How can we grow crops that resist disease, withstand droughts or yield larger produce? Bioengineers solve issues like these by enhancing or augmenting biological processes. This may mean working to develop a transgenic papaya that resists the ringspot virus, a strain of cotton plant that is able to tolerate herbicides or a type of popcorn that produces more kernels. In this way, bioengineers help improve the productivity of crops used for food, fiber and fuel.
The existence of water, and the life that it supports, makes our planet unique. Aquatic scientists often work in interdisciplinary teams to conduct research that monitors and studies the overall health and behavior of both plant and animal life in aquatic ecosystems. This research often uncovers exciting discoveries the pull back the curtain on many unknowns about life under that water’s surface. By understanding aquatic life, aquatic scientists are able to preserve our vital resources for generations to come.
If you are solutions-focused with a passion for animals, a career as an animal scientist could be a great fit for you. They research genetics, nutrition, growth, development and reproduction of domestic livestock and companion animals to better animal quality of life and well-being.
If you have a passion for animals and a love for science, then an animal nutritionist may be the perfect career for you. Animal nutritionists spend their time analyzing behavior and growth of all species of animals to make decisions about their health and wellbeing. They provide producers and/or animal caretakers with feeding recommendations that will increase the quality of life for all animals.
As animals’ lives improve, so does human quality of life, and the availability of nutritious food on our tables. Animal geneticists work to determine which traits are most desirable – such as greater resistance to disease, or higher milk output – then help to promote those traits through breeding programs.
