Farming for the future
It's an exciting and important time to work in the agricultural and environmental industries. Climate change is not only forcing the agricultural industry to rethink which crops they grow and how to grow them, but also compels the industry to consider climate resilient plant and soil health strategies over the long term. Increased globalization continues to open doors for invasive species to displace native ones, creating a need for professionals who can manage and eradicate them. And as each year gets warmer than the one before, the world needs professionals who will act as stewards to the planet for generations to come.
Penn State is Pennsylvania's premier agricultural university, and Penn State Berks is the perfect campus to begin one of the university's many agricultural and environmental-related degrees. The campus features a robust sustainability program run by dedicated students, faculty, and staff, and its Center for Agricultural Sciences and a Sustainable Environment is a great place to explore all the elements that make our world a safe, sustainable place to live. Whether you want to improve our waterways and air quality or innovate new ways to nourish the world through agriculture, or investigate and make exciting discoveries in plant and soil ecology, consider starting your journey at Penn State Berks!
Experiential learning in a living laboratory
One of the most incredible features of starting your career in agricultural sciences, ornamental horticulture, or plant and soil ecology at Penn State Berks is the ability to learn in a hands-on and impactful environment. The Center for Agricultural Sciences and a Sustainable Environment features:
- greenhouses
- rainout shelters to evaluate drought-tolerant plant systems
- grassland ecology acreage to conduct research
- workspaces for learning how to manage invasive species
- wildlife habitats for hawks, bats, squirrels, birds and more
- gardening plots for edible crops and native species
- active composting through three methods
- space for special projects, including ones led by undergraduate students!
A growing industry rife with opportunities for innovation
Agricultural science is an exciting field to explore because it blends theory and practice, the transfer of research discovery to real-world solutions, and more people worldwide are becoming interested in the sector. The job and career opportunities available in the agricultural industry are unlimited, especially due to government funding of a wide scope of related projects. There are many opportunities to specialize within agribusiness, natural resources management, and even managing sports field and parks and recreation areas, and you can also pursue graduate degrees to advance your career or work in various agro-allied industries, such as banking, communications, information technology, and biotechnology.
Agricultural sciences utilizes some of the most recent innovations in sciences and technology to make sustenance and subsistence farming less expensive. And by choosing to study agricultural sciences, you become part of a field that will only become more critical with time.
Agriculture, as well as plant and soil ecology and managing our natural resources, is the future. Farmers cultivating plants and animals for food production and industrial raw materials is the tip of the iceberg, and you can become a pioneer in the industry by starting your journey at Penn State Berks!