Given that the potential for significantly increasing arable land is limited, the challenge of meeting the world's food needs will have to be met by increasing efficiency of production, by ensuring sustainable use of land and water resources, and by transferring technologies for adoption globally.

Texas is positioned to be a major player in the worldwide expansion of food production that is expected to occur over the next 35 years. Texas leads the nation in number and in land area of farms. In addition, Texans produce more livestock, hay, and cotton that any other state, and the state ranks fourth nationally in all commodity cash receipts from farms. Agriculture is an economic powerhouse in Texas with an annual economic impact of $100 billion from the food and fiber sector. One in seven Texans are in agriculturally related jobs.

Significant Growth. The food production and natural resource management challenges of the future will only be met by a workforce capable of applying sound scientific principles and high-tech solutions that will provide sustainable global solutions for decades to come. The significant growth of jobs in agriculture and natural resources was recently recognized by the "USDA Employment Opportunity Outlook for 2010-2015."

The report indicated between 2010 and 2015, 5 percent more agricultural sciences and natural resources college graduates will be needed to meet demands in the United States. This increased demand reflects more than 54,000 new jobs annually, with 74 percent of these jobs in business and science, 15 percent in agriculture and forestry production, and 11 percent in education, communication, and government. Given its national ranking in various agricultural and natural resources sectors, Texas should be a leader in the producing these important jobs.

Science-Based Expertise. The College of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources (CASNR) at Texas Tech University provides outstanding degree programs that prepare graduates to meet the global challenges that lie ahead for the agricultural and renewable natural resources industries. Indeed, CASNR degree programs will be increasingly important in providing the science-based expertise necessary to ensure economic viability and meet critical world food, fiber, and sustainable natural resource management issues and technology transfer needs of the next three decades.

These vital CASNR degree programs are in the following areas:

• Animal Science/Food Science
• Natural Resources Management
• Plant and Soil Science/Horticulture
• Agribusiness/Agricultural and Applied Economics
• Interdisciplinary Agriculture/Agricultural Communications
• Landscape Architecture

Vital Role. In addition to the importance of meeting future needs, graduates of CASNR degree programs already play a vital role in meeting the workforce needs of Texas and the nation. The strong market demand for CASNR graduates in these areas is reflected in recent placement and salary statistics.The placement rate for students seeking employment after completing CASNR baccalaureate degrees has been 95 to 100 percent, with annual salaries ranging from $35,000 to $80,000.

• Approximately 60 to 70 percent of graduates from CASNR degree programs take jobs in the agricultural and natural resources sector.
• Approximately 25 to 30 percent of CASNR baccalaureate graduates go on to further study in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, and graduate school, reflecting the excellent preparation these degrees provide for post-baccalaureate education.

Through the degree programs available in CASNR, Texas Tech University is well-prepared to meet the global challenges of food security and natural resource management of the 21st Century. In addition, given that the individual lifetime income value of an undergraduate degree is estimated to be more than $400,000 greater than a high-school education, the economic impact of several hundred CASNR baccalaureate degree graduates per year is substantial to Texas and the nation. In the years to come, graduates of these programs will contribute significantly to meeting world food production demands and sustainably managing global natural resources. The long-term economic and environmental health of Texas depends on continuing support for these important degree programs.

Written by Michael Galyean

CONTACT: Michael Galyean, Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or michael.galyean@ttu.edu

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