Agricultural Careers Food Scientist By: Dr. Frank Flanders and Trisha Rae Stephens Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office Georgia Department of Education June 2005 START

Job Duties & Responsibilities Manage or administer research and development programs. Manage marketing or production operations in companies that produce food products or agricultural chemicals, supplies, and machinery. Consultants confer with business firms, private clients, or government to insure they are meeting consumers’ needs efficiently.

Qualities and Skills Agricultural scientists involved in management or basic research tend to work regular hours in offices and laboratories. The work environment for those engaged in applied research or product development varies, depending on the discipline of agricultural science and on the type of employer. For example, food scientists in private industry may work in test kitchens while investigating new processing techniques.

Salary Median annual earnings of agricultural and food scientists were $48,670 in The middle 50 percent earned between $35,770 and $65,990. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,750, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $85,460.

Work Environment Regular 40 hour work week Much research will be done in laboratories Food scientists in private industry may work in test kitchens while investigating new processing techniques Classroom lectures may be required Traveling may be required to various food processing areas in efforts to enforce government regulations, ensure that sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management standards are met.

Becoming a Food Science Students preparing to be food scientists need to take courses such as food chemistry, food analysis, food microbiology, food engineering, and food processing operations. While in high school students need classes in home economics, nutrition, biology, chemistry, and math.

Career Resources National Restaurant Association 1200 Seventeenth Street, NW Washington, DC Internet: Institute of Food Technology (IFT) 525 West Van Buren, Suite 1000 Chicago, Illinois Internet: Food Science Association or FSA Internet: Today’s Dietitian Magazine Internet: