Agricultural Biotechnology As A Career

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Professional Opportunities
Career Path
Leading Institutes
Institutions Abroad
Entrance Exams
Work Description
Pros & Cons

Agricultural Biotechnology

Summary

Agricultural biotechnology, also called Agritech, is an area of agricultural science that involves the use of scientific instruments and techniques, such as molecular markers, genetic engineering, molecular diagnostics, tissue culture and vaccines, to modify living organisms: animals, plants and microorganisms. Biotechnology enhances the ability of breeders to make improvements to crops and livestock through the identification and modification of certain genes. Biotechnology enables improvements that are can't be achieved through the traditional method of crossing related species alone. Biotechnology is being used in improving crop yields and increasing plants? resistance to insects, disease and drought; increasing milk production; preventing and treating animal disease; and developing better ways of processing foods.

Career Opportunities in Agricultural Biotechnology

Product Development Scientist
Development scientists are required in the companies which manufacture products to understand and control the processes used to make the final product. They work across the manufacturing industry, on products as diverse as medicines, cosmetics paints and food.
Industries
Industries engaged in processing and development of agricultural and biological products, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, bio-processing industries are the major recruiters. There are ample opportunities in industries producing cosmetics, healthcare products, textile industry, and organizations engaged in different types of industrial research and development.
Agricultural Consultant
Agricultural consultants or advisers offer support, solutions and advice to their clients to ensure that their enterprise or business is running as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Agriculture Management
Agriculture managers tend to work in either dairy, crop or animal production. Their work includes planning tactics/strategies for maximum yield, organization of farm administration, working machinery, organization of associated businesses and staff management.
Self-Employment
Free lancers can work in agricultural firms, agriculture product shops and the agro-base industry.
Process Development Scientist
Their aim is to optimize the performance of manufacturing systems. They are responsible for identifying and developing new processes for product manufacturing, as well as implementing process controls to make sure that the products are of a high quality and are manufactured in a reproducible manner.
Research and Development
Research and development is the process of discovering new products and developing them all the way to the market. These two processes keep the agricultural biotechnology industry running by creating new products to sell.

How to Pursue a Career in Agricultural Biotechnology

	Stream	Graduation	After Graduation	After Post Graduation
Path 1	Clear Class XII in Science Stream with PCB/PCM (Mathematics is recommended)	Pursue B.Sc. (Agricultural Biotechnology) for 3 years	Pursue M. Sc. (Agricultural Biotechnology) for 2 years	Pursue Ph.D in Agricultural Biotechnology for 2-3 years/Job
Path 2	Clear Class XII in Science Stream with PCB/PCM (Mathematics is recommended)	Pursue B.Tech. (Biotechnology in agriculture) for 4 years	Pursue M. Tech for 2 years	Pursue Ph.D in Agricultural Biotechnology for 2-3 years/Job

Important Facts

Some colleges have Maths and English as mandatory subjects in Class XII.
Must have passed class 12^th or senior secondary examination with at least 50% marks including English.
The minimum age limit is 17 years for B. Tech course.

Leading Institutes

Top Agricultural Biotechnology Institutes in India

College	Location	Website
Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology	Jharkhand	www.ilri.ernet.in/~iiab
University of Agricultural Sciences	Bangalore	www.uasbangalore.edu.in
Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth	Maharashtra	www.pdkv.ac.in
Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth	Maharashtra	www.mpkv.ac.in
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University	Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu	www.tnau.ac.in
Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University	Andhra Pradesh	www.angrau.ac.in
Andhra University	Andhra Pradesh	www.andhrauniversity.edu.in
Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur	Utter Pradesh	www.csauk.ac.in
Rajendra Agricultural University	Bihar	www.pusavarsity.org.in
Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya	Chhattishgarh	www.igau.edu.in
Maharshi Dayanand University	Haryana	www.mdurohtak.ac.in

Top Agricultural Biotechnology Institutes in the World

Institution	Location	Website
University of Kentucky	United States	www.uky.edu/UKHome
Wahington State University	United States	www.wsu.edu
Zhejiang University	China	www.zju.edu.cn/english
Seoul National University	South Korea	www.useoul.edu
Szent Istvan University	Hungary	www.sziu.hu

Agricultural Biotechnology Entrance Exams

Undergraduate

College	Tentative Date	Important Elements	Website
ICAR-AIEEA	May	Physics, Chemistry, Maths	www.icar.org.in
JNU CEEB	May	Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Biology	www.admissions.jnu.ac.in

Work Description

Use computer aided design (CAD) technology to design agricultural & horticultural machinery components and equipments
Design food-processing plants and supervise manufacturing operations
Test agricultural machinery and equipments to ensure their performance
Employ statistical methods and theories to solve practical problems in agricultural field
Collaborate with and work with agriculture and food scientists
Assess the environmental impact of intensive agricultural production methods
Provide consultancy & advise on water quality and issues related to managing pollution and protecting and using other water resources
Design and monitor environmental & land reclamation projects in agriculture and related arena

Pros & Cons of a Career in Agricultural Biotechnology

Pros

An individual in the field has numerous opportunities and prospects for obtaining a job since agricultural biotechnology is an up and coming field.
Professionals in the field get to work in laboratories which might an attractive work environment for some.
It can be a satisfactory career since the research and work of agricultural biotechnologists has the potential to improve the quality of food crops and solve global food problems.

Cons

There is the potential of exposure to dangerous and hazardous subtances on the job.
The salaries are average.

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