Food & Agriculture

Agricultural biotechnology, also called Agritech, is an area of agricultural science that involves the use of scientific instruments and techniques, such as molecular markers, genetic engineering, molecular diagnostics, tissue culture and vaccines, to modify living organisms: animals, plants and microorganisms. Biotechnology enhances the ability of breeders to make improvements to crops and livestock through the identification and modification of certain genes. Biotechnology enables improvements that are can't be achieved through the traditional method of crossing related species alone. Biotechnology is being used in improving crop yields and increasing plants? resistance to insects, disease and drought; increasing milk production; preventing and treating animal disease; and developing better ways of processing foods.

Agricultural engineers are professionals who design and develop new procedures, systems and tools for agricultural operations and products. They are required to go to work sites so that they can observe whether the equipment or processes are working appropriately. Agricultural engineers integrate technology with farming. New forms of biofuels from non-food resources such as agricultural waste and algae are developed by them. Bio-energy production and conservation, farm mechanization and water and soil conservation techniques are some of the exciting domains they work on.

Agronomy is defined as the science and technology of producing and utilizing plants for different uses such as obtaining fuel, land reclamation, food and fiber. Agronomy is a branch of agricultural science that includes work in the fields of plant physiology, soil science, meteorology, and plant genetics. Agronomists focus on developing techniques to enhance the production of food and fiber crops.

Dairy Technology is concerned with the handling and management of milk starting from production and processing right down to consumption. It includes processing, storage, packaging, transport and physical distribution. It aims at preventing spoilage of milk, increase its shelf-life, improve quality and make it safe for human consumption. Other than that, some principles of engineering, physics, chemistry and economics are also used in the field of dairy technology, in order to develop the appropriate milk utilization and their products. The growth and expansion of dairy industries have opened up vast job opportunities as there are more than 400 dairy plants in the country.

Food science derives from various disciplines such as chemical engineering, biochemistry and biology in an attempt to better understand the food processes and improve food products for the general public. Food scientists study the microbiological, chemical and physical makeup of food. Food Scientists & Technologists use principles of chemistry, engineering, microbiology and other sciences to ensure food safety and agricultural productivity. The technologist discovers new food sources, analyses nutrition content and finds different ways to process, package and preserve food. Thus, food scientists play an important role in improving the quality of the food that we eat everyday.

Horticulture is most conventional field of agriculture. It is an applied science which deals with vegetables, ornamental flowers and fruits. Horticulturists are involved in the cultivation and propagation of plants with the aim of improving their quality, yield, growth, nutritional value, and resistance to diseases and insects . Nowadays, horticulture is considered as one of the the most rapidly growing sectors in agriculture and is a focus area to stimulate agricultural growth, due to the fast changing food habits of the domestic population towards more nutritious food, and increasing overseas demand.

Plant breeding is the science of modification of plant traits in order to produce desired characteristics. Plant breeding can be accomplished through various techniques ranging from selective breeding of plants with desirable characteristics for propagation, to more complex molecular techniques. It is practiced worldwide by farmers and gardeners, or by plant breeders employed by organizations such as universities, crop-specific industries, research centers and government institutions.

Soil science involves the in-depth study of soil as an environmental reserve, including the study of soil formation, physical, biological, chemical and fertility properties of soils; and these properties in relation to the use and management of soils. It also includes the classification and mapping of soil properties. Soil scientists are interested in exploring and understanding the nature of earth’s water and land resources. Soil science students learn to identify, interpret, and manage soils for forestry, agriculture, rangeland, urban uses, ecosystems, mining and reclamation in a way that is environmentally conscious.