By Mackenzie Coopman | May 2024
There are 6 jobs for every graduate in the 100-billion-dollar agriculture, food, and fibre industry in Australia. This is a common adage used by industry, government, and universities in trying to attract more people to a career in primary industry. But what is it really like to study agriculture at university?
I am a third-year Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences student at The University of Adelaide. Originally from Canberra, I relocated to Adelaide in 2021. Since then, I have been learning as much as I can about primary industry. In September 2023, I was selected as one of three Ag Institute Australia Student Compendium Interns to collate entries and sponsorship for the 2024 Student Compendium which was launched on the 19th of March 2024. In December 2023 I was selected as the 2024 Primary Industry Education Foundation Australia (PIEFA) student intern. This opportunity grants me a platform to share what it is like to study a degree in agriculture, food and fibre, with the goal of inspiring people to seize the amazing potential it offers.
I will be creating a series of blogs and short videos about what it is like to study Agriculture.
These will draw from my own personal experience and from that of my peers, mentors, and professors. I hope that these narratives will shed light on the various career paths within primary industry, dismissing misconceptions and showcasing the dynamic opportunities that await those entering the field.
Conversations with people outside of primary industry reveals a common misconception. They often think that my classmates and I are farmers who spend our days in the paddock. While fieldwork is an exciting part of this degree and gives us a taste of what a career could look like in agronomy or field research, it represents just one aspect of our education. We are offered technology courses like GIS for Agriculture & Natural Resources which equip students for careers in technology during an era of increasing mechanisation in primary production. Skills honed in agribusiness are geared towards business minded people who might hope to become business owners or work in corporate settings. We are also encouraged and supported to attend industry events and explore exciting opportunities like overseas study opportunities and placements.
Achieving a tertiary education in agriculture, food and fibre is not job specific, it’s industry specific. This means that regardless of your interest or career goals, studying a primary industry related degree can get you there.
One of the most rewarding aspects of studying agriculture is the welcoming and supportive community that defines this discipline. While in other courses of study, students might feel lost with classmates and lecturers changing every semester, this study pathway brings together a group of people with common interests to create a collaborative and enthusiastic cohort. This community spirit extends beyond classmates to include mentors, professors, and industry professionals. The collaborative nature of the food and fibre sector is evident in the way knowledge is shared and innovation is encouraged, creating an environment resulting in personal and professional growth.
In the upcoming instalments to this series, I will discuss what a day in the life of an Agricultural Sciences student looks like. I will also engage with postgraduate students and PhD candidates to explore further study options. Towards the end of this project, I will speak to industry veterans about their career pathways and the opportunities for young people in this space. Stay tuned for more insights and inspirations.
