Agriculture is the science of growing food and livestock for human consumption. It can be a practice as small as a person growing enough food in their yard for their own family or as large as a commercial farm or ranch growing a product or raising an animal for a major national brand. Humans began practicing agriculture about 12,000 years ago , using it to replace their hunting and gathering lifestyles. That led to people having a surplus of food that they could use to trade with their neighbors, and it gave them time to focus on other parts of life beyond looking for something to eat. Almost all food and fabrics made today are agricultural products, as is the wood used for paper and construction. Because of the invention of machinery, synthetic fertilizer, and pesticides, modern agriculture looks much different than the labor-intensive versions of the past. However, in recent years, many people have pushed for a return to more sustainable and regenerative practices that don't have a negative impact on the environment. Either way, agriculture is considered the basis of life today.

What benefits will I gain if I learn about agriculture?

Everyone who eats or wears clothing can benefit from learning about agriculture and understanding exactly where many of the products you buy come from. Often, people push for it to become a bigger part of public school education for children in elementary, middle, and high school so that they'll have a better understanding of where their food comes from and how it's part of the much bigger picture that is modern society. Those who study agriculture often have a better relationship with food, a stronger connection to the natural world, and a greater appreciation for people around the world. Studying agriculture can also open up many job opportunities across a number of career fields.

What are typical careers that use agriculture?

About 17% of the workforce is involved in agriculture in some form, making it the largest employer in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. When most people think of ag careers, they think of becoming a farmer, but there are dozens of career opportunities. Many people with agriculture degrees enter the business world with jobs as marketers, salespeople, financial analysts, loan officers, e-commerce specialists, and forest product managers for large agricultural companies. If you prefer more of a scientific career, studying agriculture could lead to becoming a veterinarian, a food scientist, a biologist, an irrigation engineer, an animal scientist, an agronomist, or a biological engineer. If you want to become an educator, you can teach agriculture or environmental or animal sciences at the high school or college levels. You can also work in government as a plant or animal inspector or an outdoor recreation manager.

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University of Western Australia
Agriculture, Economics and Nature
Skills you'll gain: Adaptability, Strategy and Operations, Leadership and Management, Economics, Econometrics, Scientific Visualization, Operations Management, Organizational Development, Accounting, Research and Design, Probability & Statistics, Business Psychology, Data Visualization, Behavioral Economics, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving
4.7
(352 reviews)
Beginner · Course · 1-3 Months
Free
University of California, Davis
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Skills you'll gain: Analysis, ArcGIS, Data Analysis, Data Management, Data Model, Data Structures, Data Visualization, Databases, Entrepreneurship, GIS Software, Geometry, Geovisualization, Leadership and Management, Machine Learning, Map, Mathematics, Problem Solving, Research and Design, Software, Spatial Analysis, Spatial Data Analysis, Statistical Programming, Theoretical Computer Science
4.8
(5.7k reviews)
Beginner · Specialization · 3-6 Months
Free
Free
Free
Technische Universität München (TUM)
The Economics of Agro-Food Value Chains
Skills you'll gain: Communication, Leadership and Management, Compensation, Calculus, Product Marketing, Accounting, Economics, Strategy and Operations, Market Research, Planning, Computer Programming, Organizational Development, Business Psychology, Market Analysis, Design and Product, Retail Sales, Entrepreneurship, Retail Store Operations, Supply Chain and Logistics, Contract Management, Behavioral Economics, Probability & Statistics, B2B Sales, Basic Descriptive Statistics, Data Analysis, Human Resources, Programming Principles, General Statistics, Product Management, Product Strategy, Collaboration, Business Development, Business Analysis, Strategy, Statistical Analysis, Budget Management, Advertising, Research and Design, Finance, Sales, Supply Chain Systems, Linear Algebra, Problem Solving, Mathematics, Econometrics, Audit, Innovation, General Accounting, Marketing, Leadership Development
4.5
(349 reviews)
Intermediate · Course · 3-6 Months
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Free

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In summary, here are 10 of our most popular agriculture courses

Sustainable Agricultural Land Management: University of Florida
Discover Best Practice Farming for a Sustainable 2050: University of Western Australia
Agriculture, Economics and Nature: University of Western Australia
Understanding Plants - Part II: Fundamentals of Plant Biology: Tel Aviv University
Geographic Information Systems (GIS): University of California, Davis
Challenges of Agribusiness Management: Università Bocconi
Transformation of the Global Food System: University of Copenhagen
Sustainable Food Production Through Livestock Health Management: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The Economics of Agro-Food Value Chains: Technische Universität München (TUM)
CRISPR Gene Editing Teach-Out: University of Michigan

Frequently Asked Questions about Agriculture

Agriculture is the science of growing food and livestock for human consumption. It can be a practice as small as a person growing enough food in their yard for their own family or as large as a commercial farm or ranch growing a product or raising an animal for a major national brand. Humans began practicing agriculture about 12,000 years ago, using it to replace their hunting and gathering lifestyles. That led to people having a surplus of food that they could use to trade with their neighbors, and it gave them time to focus on other parts of life beyond looking for something to eat. Almost all food and fabrics made today are agricultural products, as is the wood used for paper and construction. Because of the invention of machinery, synthetic fertilizer, and pesticides, modern agriculture looks much different than the labor-intensive versions of the past. However, in recent years, many people have pushed for a return to more sustainable and regenerative practices that don't have a negative impact on the environment. Either way, agriculture is considered the basis of life today.‎
Everyone who eats or wears clothing can benefit from learning about agriculture and understanding exactly where many of the products you buy come from. Often, people push for it to become a bigger part of public school education for children in elementary, middle, and high school so that they'll have a better understanding of where their food comes from and how it's part of the much bigger picture that is modern society. Those who study agriculture often have a better relationship with food, a stronger connection to the natural world, and a greater appreciation for people around the world. Studying agriculture can also open up many job opportunities across a number of career fields.‎
About 17% of the workforce is involved in agriculture in some form, making it the largest employer in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. When most people think of ag careers, they think of becoming a farmer, but there are dozens of career opportunities. Many people with agriculture degrees enter the business world with jobs as marketers, salespeople, financial analysts, loan officers, e-commerce specialists, and forest product managers for large agricultural companies. If you prefer more of a scientific career, studying agriculture could lead to becoming a veterinarian, a food scientist, a biologist, an irrigation engineer, an animal scientist, an agronomist, or a biological engineer. If you want to become an educator, you can teach agriculture or environmental or animal sciences at the high school or college levels. You can also work in government as a plant or animal inspector or an outdoor recreation manager.‎

This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

Filter by

38 results for "agriculture"

Sustainable Agricultural Land Management

Discover Best Practice Farming for a Sustainable 2050

Agriculture, Economics and Nature

Understanding Plants - Part II: Fundamentals of Plant Biology

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Challenges of Agribusiness Management

Transformation of the Global Food System

Sustainable Food Production Through Livestock Health Management

The Economics of Agro-Food Value Chains

CRISPR Gene Editing Teach-Out

Global Postharvest Loss Prevention: Fundamentals, Technologies, and Actors

Introduction to Food and Our Environment

Searches related to agriculture

In summary, here are 10 of our most popular agriculture courses

Frequently Asked Questions about Agriculture

What is agriculture?‎

What benefits will I gain if I learn about agriculture?‎

What are typical careers that use agriculture?‎

Start or advance your career

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Popular courses and articles

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Filter by

38 results for "agriculture"

Searches related to agriculture

In summary, here are 10 of our most popular agriculture courses

Frequently Asked Questions about Agriculture

What is agriculture?‎

What benefits will I gain if I learn about agriculture?‎

What are typical careers that use agriculture?‎

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Start or advance your career

Browse popular topics

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Earn a degree or certificate online

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