Agriculturist
An agriculturist, agriculturalist, agrologist, or agronomist is a professional in the science, practice, and management of agriculture and agribusiness. It is a regulated profession in Canada, India, Japan, the Philippines, the United States, and the European Union. Other names used to designate the profession include agricultural scientist, agricultural manager, agricultural planner, agriculture researcher, or agriculture policy maker.
The primary role of agriculturists are in leading agricultural projects and programs, usually in agribusiness planning or research for the benefit of farms, food, and agribusiness-related organizations. Agriculturists usually are designated in the government as public agriculturists serving as agriculture policymakers or technical advisors for policy making. Agriculturists can also provide technical advice for farmers and farm workers such as in making crop calendars and workflows to optimize farm production, tracing agricultural market channels, prescribing fertilizers and pesticides to avoid misuse, and in aligning for organic accreditation or the national agricultural quality standards.
Preparation of technical engineering designs and construction for agriculture meanwhile are reserved for agricultural engineers. Agriculturists may pursue environmental planning and focus on agricultural and rural planning.
Responsibilities
Agriculturists are science based consultants with major fields of specialization including agribusiness management, crop science, agricultural extension, agriculture economics, development communication, animal science, soil science, food technology, crop protection, agricultural biotechnology, agricultural policy, and environmental science.In modern practice, agriculturists are expected to be proficient in digital agriculture such as the use of geographic information systems, artificial intelligence, and remote sensing for better agricultural planning.
Agriculturists of today are involved with many issues, including producing food, creating healthier food, managing the environmental impact of agriculture, distribution of agriculture, recreation surfaces, and extracting energy from plants.
Agriculturists often specialize in food and agriculture research areas such as crop rotation, irrigation and drainage, plant breeding, plant physiology, soil classification, soil fertility, weed control, turfgrass and insect and pest control.
Professional agriculturists may provide advice directly to farmers, vineyards, agricultural corporations, municipal and provincial governments, the fertilizer and seeds sector, consult on food processing, advise on range management, turf management and golf course operations, assess and provide remedial recommendations for brown lands, watersheds, among many different areas of practice.
Asia
China
In the People's Republic of China, the professional designation is agricultural technician ''. These professionals operate within a state-led agricultural extension system coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and are primarily appointed at the county or township level by local government agencies.Due to the competitive nature of public service employment, individuals who aspire to hold permanent positions within the civil service must pass the National Civil Service Exam. In addition to passing this exam, candidates are required to have completed a degree in agriculture or a closely related field and highly-intricate training programs to be eligible for appointment as public agricultural officers.
India
In India, the professional designation is Agricultural Scientist. To qualify for entry level posts, the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board conducts competitive examinations pursuant to the Gajendragadkar Report of 1972. The post of entry level ARS is same with Jr. Class I cadre of Central government. The initial pay is fixed after granting advance increments for higher qualification, with PhDs getting the highest salary.They are kept on 'tenure track' or 'probation' for two years and upon satisfactory completion of this period they are given tenure and confirmed in the ARS. On completing service for designated years and meeting set performance criteria, they are promoted to the next higher grades in a flexible complementation system known as Career Advancement Scheme.
Incumbents without a PhD degree are given paid study leave to acquire PhD qualification, which is necessary for career progression. Through CAS, scientists can rise up to principal scientist grade, which is equivalent to the scale of joint secretary to the Government of India. The ARS encourages fresh infusion of talent at all senior levels through lateral entry in which incumbent scientists can participate in the open competition and move their career ahead in much shorter time than CAS. All the research management positions are filled through open competition. The director general of ICAR is the highest-ranked member of the ARS, who is ex officio secretary to the Government of India, Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture.
Japan
In Japan, the professional designation is agricultural extension officer by virtue of the Agricultural Improvement Promotion Act. One must typically hold a degree in agriculture or a related field, accumulate years of practical technical experience, pass a national qualification exam, and then be appointed by a prefectural government, as guided by standards from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. These officers deliver technical advice, promote good agricultural practices, assist with compliance in programs like the Certified Farm Manager initiative, and support technology transfer to local farmers.Meanwhile Certified Farm Manager , a designation formally awarded through a combination of academic credentials, government-administered training, certification programs, and skills assessments from the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives and that are aligned with the Japanese Agricultural Standards of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Philippines
In the Philippines, the official professional designation is Registered Agriculturist by virtue of the Philippine Agriculturist Act of 2025 or Republic Act No. 12215. Prior to the enactment of the law, the profession has already been regulated by the Professional Regulation Commission and the Professional Board of Agriculture by virtue of Republic Act No. 8435 or Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997, which mentioned:Section 75. Agriculture and Fisheries Board. - There shall be created an Agriculture and Fisheries Board in the Professional Regulation Commission to upgrade the Agriculture and Fisheries profession. Those who have not passed the Civil Service Examination for Fisheries and Agriculture but have served the industry in either private or public capacity for not less than five years shall be automatically granted eligibility by the Board of Examiners. The first board of examination for B.S. Fisheries and/or Agriculture Graduates shall be conducted within one year from the approval of this Act.A Registered Agriculturist can affix the title "R.Agr." or "Agr." to indicate the profession. The Professional Board of Agriculture was created and established in 2000 by virtue of PRC Resolution No. 2000-663 and the first Agriculturist Licensure Examination was held in 2003 and has annually been held annually.
Professional Practice of Agriculturists
Registered Agriculturists are authorized to perform services related to:- Crop, livestock, and poultry production, processing and marketing
- Soil, crop, and animal health management
- Consultancy, feasibility planning and cost estimation services
- Breeding, research, pest & disease control, and extension work
- Training, technology transfer, and agricultural education
- Marketing and agribusiness management
- Teaching agricultural subjects in recognized institutions
- Employment in private and government roles requiring professional agricultural knowledge
A separate registry system for farmers, fisherfolk, and agri-youth was established by the Department of Agriculture through the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture.
Eligibility to take the Board Exam
A prospective professional agriculturist is typically required to have a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, although other degree programs directly related to agriculture are also allowed to take the licensure examination if they earn at least twenty-seven units of fundamental agriculture credits from a recognized higher education institution. About 5,500 registered agriculturists pass the licensure examination annually. It is one of the hardest licensure examinations in the country with 29.84% passing rate in November 2021.Professionals and educators with at least five years of experience in agriculture are allowed to be registered as an Agriculturist without taking the licensure examination.
Europe
European Union
In the European Union, the generic name of the profession is Agronomist/Agricultural Engineer. The profession is exercised for the public interest in defense of the principles of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and Directive 2005/36/EC.Italy
In Italy, the professional designation is "Dottori Agronomi". The profession is exercised for the public interest in defense of the principles of Articles 9 and 32 of the Italian Constitution and of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Professionals enrolled in the Register of Dottori Agronomi while exercising the profession base their actions on the following principles:- Contribute to the integrated and sustainable development through the planning and design compatible with the conservation of biodiversity;
- Ensure and promote the quality of food for animal feed and animal welfare;
- Ensure the safety and promote the quality of food products for the protection of the business system and the health and well-being of the consumer;
- Promote and enhance the landscapes and cultures of rural communities;
- Qualify and enhance urban ecosystems and the development of plant and animal heritage and biodiversity.