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Green Agriculture
Green agriculture is a process that involves sustainable, low-impact cultivation of crops and incorporates different technologies and industries. Also known as green faming or sustainable agriculture, green agriculture is a response to growing concerns about the effects of cultivating and consuming contaminated food, as well as the risks involved in over-using and polluting soil, water and air.
In the United States – as around the world – there is a debate about what these terms mean, and how they can be defined, initiated and assessed. A group of contributors at the Leonardo Academy are developing an American National Standard for Sustainable Agriculture that will conform to the expectations of the American National Standards Institute and go a long way towards developing a common understanding of this emerging field – but is not expected until 2012.
In the meantime, farmers and industry lobbyists are engaging different interpretation of these initiatives, all in the interest of cultivating more sustainable techniques. Among the major topics of debate is the issue of organics, or the suitability of genetic modification and chemical enhancement in green farming. Organic advocates argue that such manipulations are not “green” but opponents support the use of scientific tools in the interests of ‘sustainability’.
Plant scientists are experts in agronomy, the specific branch of science devoted to the production of field crops. Agronomists work directly with farmers and industry leaders to produce sustainable farming methods and conservation techniques. Plant experts are also influential in the production of seeds and the surrounding politics of reproductivity, genetic manipulation and insect control. A related field is green biotechnology, in which scientists and researchers investigate the industrial uses of different organisms in the cultivation of food crops.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the sustainable farming industry is forecast to grow in the future, creating an opportune job market for interested candidates. In addition to agriculture and science-based careers, there are also opportunities for people with backgrounds in Business Administration, Business Management, Farm Management, Sales and Marketing and Law and Compliance.
A major area of career opportunities exists within the realm of scientific certification. Industry leaders like Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) work with government bureaus to develop statements and policy initiatives. President and CEO of SCS, Stan Rhodes has contributed towards the creation of food and environmental certification programs over the last twenty years. In his early career Rhodes worked as an advanced research chemist for Kodak and Delta Labs, putting to work his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and his PhD in Organic Chemistry. SCS Senior Vice President, Robert Hrubes is an expert in natural resource management and resource economics. Hrubes holds a Bachelor of Science in Forest Management and Outdoor Recreation Management, a Master of Science in Resource Systems Management, a Master of Arts in Economics and a PhD in Wildland Resource Sciences.
For farmers, careers in horticulture now incorporate aspects of environmental sustainability in the science crop cultivation for human consumption. One of the fastest growing industries in the United States – according to education specialists at Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa, California - environmental horticulture is a more holistic approach to crop production than traditional farming.
EDUCATIONAL SIDEBAR:
- Bachelor of Science Degrees in Agricultural Science are often sufficient for entry-level positions in research and development in the Green Agriculture Field. Such degree programs usually cover a range of related subjects including: environmental science, biology, biochemistry, plant physiology, crop science, soil and water science, horticulture and related economics and business topics.
- Master’s Degrees and PhD’s in Agricultural Science or a related specialty are important for leading positions and advanced career objectives.
- Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programs in Resource Management, Public and International Policy Development, Environmental Policy and Law and Environmental Science and Engineering are all relevant for executive careers in Green Agriculture.
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