Modern agriculture is rooted in science, and will continue to employ more advanced technologies as it develops. Fertilizer is no exception and there are many careers in the industry spanning several disciplines.
Chemistry
Developing more efficient fertilizers requires a thorough knowledge of the building blocks of life. Researchers working in chemistry are always just a few molecules away from the perfect fertilizer.
Agronomist
Plant and soil scientists who study and try to improve on the process of growing farm crops. They help farmers use their land more effectively and suggest methods to increase yields. Agronomists also aid in solving or preventing problems with soil and crops.
Geology and Mining
Many elemental resources come from deposits deep within the earth. Finding those valuable minerals and finding the safest and most sustainable approach to extracting them is important to the fertilizer industry.
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Farm equipment is constantly evolving. The next generation of machinery may be remote-controlled, perhaps drone-based fertilization, or something even more groundbreaking. The fertilizer industry needs those who are looking to adopt and push the latest tech.
Environmental Engineering
Stewardship is an important goal of fertilizer producers. People working in environmental sciences are critical to help discover ways to balance the production of food and the health of our planet.
Analytics
There is a lot of data being captured—including satellite imagery and GPS tracking—to help farmers increase production and control costs. But it isn’t useful without people who make sense of it all. Analytics teams can help make data accessible and actionable.
Software Development
As precision agriculture becomes more common and widely available, farmers will require ways to interact with the tools that are supplying them with this information.
Robotics
In the future, machines could accurately mix specific nutrient blends via the internet, or fertilize thousands of acres autonomously. Artificial intelligence that can interpret data and act upon it may become an integral part of a smarter fertilizer production and distribution system.
Genetics
Creating plants that are genetically engineered to thrive on specific nutrients, or metabolize and absorb nutrients more efficiently, is the newest frontier in fertilizer technology.
Interested in working in the industry today? Check out our members’ websites for career opportunities.
