Agricultural chemist
An agricultural chemist is a professional who specializes in the study and application of chemistry to enhance crop production and ensure food safety. They work on developing efficient fertilizers and crop protection agents such as pesticides and herbicides, aiming to improve both the quality and quantity of food for humans and livestock. The role of agricultural chemists extends to government agencies, where they monitor food safety and pesticide usage, as well as academic institutions where they conduct research and teach.
The path to becoming an agricultural chemist typically requires a minimum of a four-year degree in chemistry or a related field, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary studies that include biology, physics, and environmental science. Advanced positions often necessitate graduate degrees, with many professionals holding a PhD. Job prospects in this field are promising, with a projected 6% growth rate in employment opportunities over the next decade, reflecting the ongoing need for innovation in agricultural practices to meet the demands of a growing global population.
Agricultural chemists also face ethical responsibilities, particularly when working with genetically modified organisms and ensuring environmental safety. Their work is increasingly vital as challenges such as pest resistance and environmental sustainability become more prevalent in agriculture today.
Agricultural chemist
* Designated as a Green Occupation by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
Earnings (Median Pay): $76,400 per year $36.73 per hour (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023)
Employment and Outlook: 6% (Faster than average) (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023)
O*NET-SOC Code: 19-1012.00
Related Career Cluster(s): Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources; Government & Public Administration; Health Science; Manufacturing
Scope of Work
Agricultural chemists work to ensure and improve the quantity and quality of crops for human food and animal feed. A classic field of application within agricultural chemistry is the development of efficient fertilizers that promote plant growth, have as few negative side effects on the environment as possible, and are inexpensive to manufacture. A second key application is crop protection, in which agricultural chemists help develop and improve pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other chemical agents to support crop production. Agricultural chemists are also employed by government agencies to ensure food safety and track pesticides. They also work as scientists in academic settings.
The most recent application sees agricultural chemists working to genetically modify food in order to make plants more resistant, provide increased yield, and add nutritional elements.
Education and Coursework
In high school, a student should take classes in chemistry, as well as in biology and physics. Good computer skills and proficiency in English are also necessary. Students should spend time in a chemistry laboratory and gain experience performing experiments. Interest in the genetic modification of food and other issues affecting agriculture could serve as motivation to pursue a career in the field.
The minimum educational requirement to work as an agricultural scientist is a four-year college degree. When choosing a college, students should look for an institution with a strong chemistry department and programs related to agricultural chemistry. Typically, students will pursue bachelor of science degrees in chemistry or biochemistry. However, as agricultural chemistry is an interdisciplinary science, students should take courses in biology, physics, water and soil chemistry, and physiology as well. Exposure to instruction in environmental and earth sciences is also useful.
General-education classes in computer science and English are beneficial for aspiring agricultural chemists. Many universities and colleges offer students the opportunity for undergraduate research, and a student should try to pursue this research with a faculty mentor who is active in agricultural chemistry. Work in laboratories or test fields offered by an agricultural and food science program is an excellent way to learn about practical applications of agricultural chemistry. An internship with an agricultural chemical company, or at a government agency employing agricultural chemists, would also be a wise choice.
For any type of advanced or research work as an agricultural chemist, a master of science degree and a PhD are essential. More than two-thirds of US chemists have a PhD, as reported by the American Chemical Society. Among agricultural chemists, that percentage may be even higher. Students should choose a university with a good graduate program in chemistry and faculty involved in agricultural chemistry.
After deciding on a field of agricultural chemistry to specialize in, the focus of postgraduate study should be aligned accordingly. The interdisciplinary nature of agricultural chemistry means students have a large degree of freedom; however, they also face the challenge of choosing a personal path of postgraduate courses and research, since there are many acceptable entry points to the field of agricultural chemistry. Fellowships and internships with agrochemical companies or government agencies can also be helpful opportunities to gain more experience and make networking connections during postgraduate work.
Career Enhancement and Training
Postdoctoral work in the form of research fellowships is recommended for agricultural chemists who want to do research and teach in academia, but it is not required.
Membership in the American Chemical Society (ACS) is highly recommended for agricultural chemists. Even while working toward a master’s degree or PhD, aspiring agricultural chemists have the opportunity to present their research at academic conferences. This is one of the best ways to network and learn more about career options and employment opportunities.
Because agricultural chemistry is a fast-moving science, particularly in regard to genetically modified foods, an agricultural chemist is expected to keep abreast of the latest developments in the field. This can be done by subscribing to journals in the field and attending conferences. Agricultural chemists employed in the industry will have to observe the ethics concerning proprietary company knowledge in their interactions with fellow scientists and the general public. Those employed by government agencies will have to observe the rules of public service. In academia, a lifelong commitment to research and teaching is an absolute must, and publication is necessary for gaining tenure and professional advancement.
Daily Tasks and Technology
Daily tasks differ greatly, depending on whether an agricultural chemist works in industry, for a government agency, in academia, or as a self-employed consultant. In industrial applications, an agricultural chemist is part of the business effort to develop a marketable product or to improve and enhance existing products. Usually, agricultural chemists work in teams involving scientists from other disciplines and technicians. The more senior and experienced scientist will lead the team, and there is an industry expectation that research will ultimately be of economic value to the company. The work location is typically a laboratory or some other open environment for experiments. The more advanced the position is, the more time will have to be spent on management issues, including presentations at company meetings.
In a government position, agricultural chemists typically share time between laboratory work and desk work. The former involves analyzing chemicals used in the agrochemical industry and soil samples from places where agrochemicals have been used. Working for the government, agricultural chemists present their analytical findings in internal and external reports. They carry responsibility for the safety of food and the environment and are expected to follow the highest ethical standards.
In academia, agricultural chemists perform laboratory and field research while maintaining a teaching schedule. An increasingly important task in this field is cooperation with academic institutions’ industry partners. Writing grant applications is a necessity. Finally, an agricultural chemist contracting as an independent consultant typically works on a project basis for a variety of industrial clients.
The well-stocked laboratory of an agricultural chemist and research team employs the latest chemical measuring and analytical tools, ranging from Erlenmeyer flasks to centrifuges and vacuum pumps. The technologies for research and development include laser, spectrometer, and titration technology. There is a vast array of analytical and scientific software developed for applications in chemical analysis, in addition to database software and office and graphics software for presenting research results. Working with genetically modified foods also involves microtechnology in the case of syringe gene transfers, as well as nanotechnology in the use of gene guns.
Earnings and Employment Outlook
In spite of consolidation in the agricultural chemistry industry and a shift of jobs from the industry to academia in research partnerships, the estimated 6-percent job growth for agricultural and food scientists from 2022 to 2032 is faster than the average expected job growth in the United States. Traditionally, industry jobs have been the top payers, closely followed by government positions, with many academic employees averaging about only two-thirds of the industrial median wages. In addition, with federal and state budget cuts, there may be less funding for university research, including less money to hire academic personnel.
For agricultural chemists working as food scientists and technologists, the median annual wage in 2023 was $88,350. For animal scientists this figure was $89,450 and for soil & plant scientists, median wages were $77,080. For agricultural chemists employed in Research and Development in Life Sciences, in 2022 median annual pay was $83,060. For those in the food manufacturing industry, this was $78,860. Those in government positions registered pay of $71,140. Academic institutions offered remuneration at a median salary of $59,610.
Related Occupations
• Agricultural and Food Scientists: Agricultural chemists are a type of agricultural and food scientists, who broadly speaking study all areas of agriculture and work to ensure overall food safety. Other types of agricultural and food scientists include animal scientists, plant scientists, and soil scientists.
• Biochemists: Biochemists need a PhD to qualify for their profession, which combines research of the chemical and biological principles of life.
• Chemical Engineers:Chemical engineers utilize chemistry, biology, and physics to design processes for the effective industrial production of a variety of end products, which may range from food to fuel and from pharmaceuticals to specialty chemicals.
• Environmental Scientists: Environmental scientists work to protect the environment from the vantage point of a particular skill in a natural science.
• Natural Sciences Managers: Natural sciences managers supervise the performance of other scientists, often administrating and coordinating large research-and-development projects. Many of them have backgrounds as practicing scientists.
Future Applications
As the human population grows and demands higher quantity and quality of food production, there is a natural demand for the work of agricultural chemists ensuring food production, protection, and improvement. There is a global desire for even more effective fertilizers to be developed to increase crop growth and yields and to minimize any negative environmental effects of fertilizers. Similarly, as insects, bacteria, and viruses become immune to one generation of pesticides, there is a constant demand for new crop protection solutions developed by agricultural chemists. Even though it has been controversial, the potential development of genetically modified plants, and perhaps even animals, provides a cutting-edge research field for agricultural chemists.
The challenge, however, is where the work of agricultural chemists will be performed. The US agricultural chemistry industry has consolidated considerably, which means there are only a limited number of employment positions. Some alternative job opportunities will emerge through partnerships between US universities and agrochemical corporations. Another growth area comes from smaller, specialized research companies providing professional, scientific, and technical services to large corporations. Thanks to the job openings estimated at these enterprises, the Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates a job growth of around 6 percent from 2023 to 2032 for agricultural chemists.
Bibliography
"19-1012.00 – Food Scientists and Technologists." O*NET Online, 9 Aug. 2024, www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-1012.00. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.
"Agricultural and Food Scientists." Occupational Outlook Handbook, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/agricultural-and-food-scientists.htm. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.