Agriculture & Natural Resources

Agribusiness & Agriculture

The food and agriculture sector is hugely important to the Irish economy, employing roughly one in seven of the working population. Agriculture courses have received very healthy application numbers over the last number of years, as successive generations of school leavers recognise the good career prospects in a sector that has withstood the recession admirably. So if you’re interested in any aspect of the process involved in bringing that tasty steak (or salad for you veggies) from the field to your dinner table, read on…

Education

Agricultural education and training is very democratic and open to all levels of school leaver. In further education, the Certificate in Agriculture (Level 5) offers the initial training and work experience required by Leaving Cert holders who wish to become farmers or farm workers. Subjects tackled include animal and crop production, farm machinery, and health and safety.

There is a wide range of agricultural subjects available at higher level. For example, the three-year Ordinary Bachelor Degree in Agriculture (Level 7) is available from three institutes of technology: Cork, Dundalk and Waterford. The course is highly practical; it includes a three-month work placement, and is suitable for roles in farm management, environmental management, sales and marketing, and quality control.

Limerick IT offers a two-year Level 6 course in Agricultural Mechanisation for those who wish to work as mechanics in the farm machinery industry.

UCD is a major provider of agricultural courses at university level. Honours degree (Level 8) programmes are available in areas such as Food & Agribusiness Management, Agri-Environmental Sciences, Dairy Business and Animal & Crop Production. Alternatively, the omnibus entry Agricultural Science programme enables students to get a taster of these various areas, before going on to specialise in a particular field.

Graduates of these programmes can work in a wide range of agribusiness roles, including enterprise management, consultancy, education and research, marketing and communications, and food production. 

The Work

Agribusiness and agriculture comprise a huge range of careers. Besides the various forms of farming, which is a part time career for an increasing number of people, there are many interesting and diverse roles.

To name just a small sample: businesses supplying goods and machinery to farmers; sales, production and marketing staff in the large food producers and cooperatives; representatives of rural development agencies and government bodies who monitor the environment and provide expert advice to farmers; and the many scientific roles involved in researching areas such as soil chemistry, food processing, etc.

Working in agribusiness requires a good head for figures, a solid understanding of rural industries and society, and most importantly, an interest in the natural environment.

Did you know?
Cows produce more milk when listening to music.

Further Resources

• Teagasc – the agriculture and food development authority: www.teagasc.ie
• Agri Aware – promoting the Irish farming and food industry: www.agriaware.ie
• An Bord Bia (The Irish Food Board): www.bordbia.ie