Data Scientist
My job is to make sure that data created by farming technologies is retrieved,
stored and analysed, helping to give the best advice to farmers.
Farmers want to know how they can keep their crops healthy, how their farms can be more productive
and how they can reduce the environmental impact of their farming practices. I help them to do this.
With more digital technology available to farmers, large volumes of data are being created. But farmers don't necessarily have the time or skills needed to analyse all this data.
Luckily for them, I love maths, statistics and solving problems. I use specialised software to analyse data
from satellites, drones, sensors and autonomous vehicles, providing accurate analysis of soil content,
growing
conditions and crop development. I also use computer models to predict pest and disease conditions in the
future,
and farmers can use this information to protect the crops on their farms.
Biologist
Biologists study living organisms and their interactions - with each other and with their
environment.
As a biologist working in agriculture, there are lots of different areas where I can have an impact. As a plant breeder,
I can develop new crop varieties. But if I was a microbiologist, soil scientist or plant scientist, I could
look at the health of the soil,
how nutrients are transferred to plants or how crops grow.
I could also explore nutrition and the quality of crops, helping improve the health of people and animals.
My job involves using lots of different technologies. I like to understand how living systems work to see if there are features within them that we can use to improve the way we grow crops. By understanding the of plants, I can breed crops that can cope with challenging growing conditions, equipping them with characteristics such as drought-tolerance and disease-resistance.
Ecologist
As an ecologist working in agriculture, it is my job to understand the interactions between farms, living systems and the environment.
Farming involves managing land and natural resources to produce food, fuel and fibres. It is my job to work with farmers, scientists and engineers to ensure that the farming methods being used do not have harmful effects on the environment.
My job involves a lot of observation, data collection and scientific analysis. To do this, I use a lot of scientific equipment - including the technology that you've learnt about in this badge!
I use technology to monitor the environment and see the impact that farming methods have on soil, water and . If I can understand how farming methods affect the environment, I can recommend solutions that minimise farming's impact and ensure that farming is sustainable.
Farmer
I manage the day-to-day activities on the farm, which can include buying and planting seeds, looking after my
crops as they grow and harvesting them when they are ready.
It all depends on what crops I am growing and the time of year.
I’m an arable farmer, meaning that I grow crops including wheat, barley and vegetables. However, farmers can
specialise in different things. I know dairy farmers, poultry farmers and even flower farmers.
Farming today is much more advanced than ever before. To be a farmer today, you need to have a lot of varying
skills and knowledge.
I am responsible for all the technology and equipment on my farm, including my farm machinery, sensors and
drones. I use a combination of these technologies to generate
information and carry out tasks around the farm.
I do this because I want to be as efficient as possible in producing high quality food.
Engineer
Engineers try to tackle problems in the world using maths, physics and machinery. As an engineer working in the agriculture industry, it's my job to develop the technology needed to improve farming techniques and make them more environmentally friendly.
I am constantly thinking up innovative ways to help farmers grow better crops and protect the environment. I work with the electronic and mechanical aspects of agriculture, designing and testing new machinery and vehicles, such as driverless tractors, drones and sensors.
This means I need to be good with numbers and good with my hands. I might also get called in when technologies break down!
