Agricultural and Food Science Technician

Summary

Agricultural and food science technicians assist agricultural and food scientists.

What they do

Agricultural and food science technicians assist agricultural and food scientists by performing duties such as measuring and analyzing the quality of food and agricultural products. Duties range from performing agricultural labor with added recordkeeping duties to laboratory testing with significant amounts of office work, depending on the particular field the technician works in.

Specific duties of these technicians vary with their specialty.

Agricultural science technicians typically do the following:

Follow protocols to collect, prepare, analyze, and properly store crop or animal samples
Operate farm equipment and maintain agricultural production areas to conform to scientific testing parameters
Examine animal and crop specimens to determine the presence of diseases or other problems
Measure ingredients used in animal feed and other inputs
Prepare and operate laboratory testing equipment
Compile and analyze test results
Prepare charts, presentations, and reports describing test results

Food science technicians typically do the following:

Collect and prepare samples in accordance with established procedures
Test food, food additives, and food containers to ensure that they comply with established safety standards
Help food scientists with food research, development, and quality control
Analyze chemical properties of food to determine ingredients and formulas
Compile and analyze test results
Prepare charts, presentations, and reports describing test results
Prepare and maintain quantities of chemicals needed to perform laboratory tests
Maintain a safe, sterile laboratory environment

Agricultural and food science technicians often specialize by subject area, which includes animal health, farm machinery, fertilizers, agricultural chemicals, or processing technology. Duties can vary considerably by specialization.

Work Environment

Technicians work in a variety of settings, including laboratories, processing plants, farms and ranches, greenhouses, and offices. Technicians who work in processing plants and agricultural settings may face noise from processing and farming machinery, extreme temperatures, and odors from chemicals or animals. They may need to lift and carry objects, and be physically active for long periods of time.

How to become an Agricultural and Food Science Technician

Agricultural and food science technicians typically need an associate’s degree in biology, chemistry, crop or animal science, or a related field. Some positions require candidates to have a bachelor’s degree, and others a high school diploma or equivalent plus related work experience.

Students interested in a career as an agricultural or food science technician should take as many high school science and math classes as possible. A solid background in applied chemistry, biology, physics, math, and statistics is important. Knowledge of how to use spreadsheets and databases also may be necessary.

Agricultural and food science technicians typically need an associate’s degree in biology, chemistry, crop or animal science, or a related field from an accredited college or university. Some agricultural and food science technician positions require a bachelor’s degree.

Students may take courses in biology, chemistry, plant or animal science, and agricultural engineering as part of their programs. Programs include technical instruction and hands-on experience. Many schools offer internships, cooperative-education, and other programs designed to provide practical experience and enhance employment prospects.

Some agricultural and food science technicians successfully enter the occupation with a high school diploma or equivalent, but they typically need related work experience and on-the-job training that may last a year or more.

Agricultural and food science technicians typically undergo on-the-job training. Various federal government regulations outline the types of training needed for technicians, which varies by work environment and specific job requirements. Training may cover topics such as production techniques, personal hygiene, and sanitation procedures.

Pay

The median annual wage for agricultural and food science technicians was $41,230 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,030, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $64,180.

Job Outlook

Employment of agricultural and food science technicians is projected to grow 4 percent from 2019 to 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Demand will continue for agricultural research into areas such as the effects of population growth, increased demand for water resources, harm from pests and pathogens, changes in climate and weather patterns, and demand for agricultural products, such as biofuels.

Similar Job Titles

Agricultural Research Technician, Agricultural Research Technologist, Agricultural Technician, Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech), Research Assistant, Research Associate, Research Specialist, Research Technician, Seed Analyst, Senior Agricultural Assistant, Central Lab Technician (CLT), Food Science Technician, Lab Tech (Laboratory Technician), Laboratory Assistant (Lab Assistant), Operations Technician, Quality Analyst, Quality Assurance Analyst (QA Analyst), Quality Control Technician (QC Technician), Quality Technician, Technical Services Analyst

Related Occupations

Biological Technician, Chemical Technician, Pharmacy Technician, Agricultural Inspector, Nuclear Monitoring Technician

More Information

The trade associations listed below represent organizations made up of people (members) who work and promote advancement in the field. Members are very interested in telling others about their work and about careers in those areas. As well, trade associations provide opportunities for organizational networking and learning more about the field’s trends and directions.

Agronomic Science Foundation - Mission is to provide leadership and financial resources to further the role of the agronomic, crop, and soil sciences in global crop production, and to promote human welfare within a sustainable environment.
American Dairy Science Association - ADSA is an international organization of educators, scientists, and industry representatives who are committed to advancing the dairy industry and keenly aware of the vital role the dairy sciences play in fulfilling the economic, nutritive, and health requirements of the world's population.
American Society of Agronomy - ASA is a progressive international scientific and professional society that empowers scientists, educators, and practitioners in developing, disseminating, and applying agronomic solutions to feed and sustain the world.
Association of Official Seed Analysts/Society of Commercial Seed Technologists - AOSA is an organization of member laboratories dedicated to education and research, including state, federal, and university laboratories from the United States and Canada.
Crop Science Society of America - CSSA is a progressive international scientific society that fosters the vision to improve the world through crop science. Based in Madison, WI, and founded in 1956, CSSA is the professional home for 4,000+ members dedicated to discover and apply plant science solutions to improve the human condition and protect the planet.
International Society for Seed Science - ISSS is a professional organization of seed scientists committed to fostering and promoting research, education and communication in the scientific understanding of seeds.

Magazines and Publications

Video Transcript

Advances in food and agriculture science are designed to bring healthier conditions and better production value for crops and farm animals and result in new—or better food on our tables. Agricultural and food science technicians help scientists in these fields to conduct research, run lab tests, and keep records. Their specific duties differ: Agricultural technicians study ways to increase the productivity of crops and animals. They operate laboratory equipment and collect crop or animal samples to test them for disease or to confirm scientific experiments. They also perform agricultural labor with added recordkeeping duties. Food science technicians investigate new processing techniques. They inspect foodstuffs, chemicals, and additives, compile and analyze test results, and prepare presentations to share research findings. Agricultural and food science technicians work in laboratories, processing plants, farms and ranches, greenhouses, and offices. Workers may be exposed to loud noise, extreme temperatures, and odors from chemicals or animals. They are often physically active throughout the day. Agricultural and food science technicians typically work standard full-time schedules. Some positions require travel. Agricultural and food science technicians typically need an associate’s degree in biology, chemistry, crop or animal science, or a related field. However, requirements may vary from a high school diploma and related work experience to a bachelor’s degree.

Content retrieved from: US Bureau of Labor Statistic www.bls.gov/ooh,
CareerOneStop www.careeronestop.org, O*Net Online www.onetonline.org