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Engineering that makes a difference
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Engineering with a
higher purpose
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Engineering for life
Biological and Agricultural
Engineering
Finding Solutions for Life on a Small Planet
• World population expected to hit 9 billion
by 2050
• Growing world population requires more
food, water, energy, goods
• Limited resources demand we do more with
less, without degrading our natural world
Biological and Agricultural Engineers ensure
growing population has the necessities for life
• Safe and abundant food and water
• Timber and fiber for shelter and clothing
• Plentiful and renewable energy resources
• A healthy environment in which to live
Biological and Agricultural Engineers—
what do they do?
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Devise practical, efficient solutions for producing, storing,
transporting, processing, and packaging agricultural products
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Solve problems related to systems, processes,
and machines that interact with humans, plants,
animals, microorganisms, and biological materials
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Develop solutions for responsible, alternative
uses of agricultural products, byproducts and
wastes and of our natural resources - soil, water,
air, and energy
Why Choose Biological
and Agricultural
Engineering?
Can’t decide whether to study math,
physical sciences, or biological sciences?
Bio-Ag Engineering allows you to combine
them all!
Unique curriculum offers valuable
experience in other engineering
disciplines and prepares graduates for
multi-disciplinary teams common in
today’s workforce.
Make a lasting mark on the world around
you!
Who Employs Biological and
Agricultural Engineers?
With a unique understanding of the
interrelationships between technology
and living systems, you’ll have a wide
variety of employment options available
to you!
Specialty
Areas
Food and Bioprocess Engineering
Information & Electrical Systems
Structures & Environment
Biological Engineering
Natural Resources
Energy
Forest Engineering
Aquacultural Engineering
Safety, Health , Ergonomics
Nursery & Greenhouse Engineering
Power Systems & Machinery Design
Biological Engineering
Applying engineering practice to problems
and opportunities presented by living things
and the environment
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Pest control
Hazardous waste treatment
Environmental protection
Bioinstrumentation
Bioimaging
Medical implants and devices
Plant-based pharmaceuticals and
packaging materials
Natural Resources
Improving conservation by understanding the
complex mechanics of soil and water
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Wetlands protection
Water control structures: dams,
reservoirs, floodways
Drainage
Erosion control
Pesticide and nutrient runoff
Crop water requirements
Water treatment systems
Irrigation
Food and Process Engineering
Using microbiological processes to develop useful products, treat
municipal, industrial, and agricultural wastes, and improve food safety
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Packaging, storage,
transportation of perishable
products
Pasteurization, sterilization,
irradiation techniques
Food processing techniques &
technologies
Biomass fuels
Nutraceuticals, phamaceuticals
Biodegradable packaging
materials
Information &
Electrical Technologies
Perhaps the most versatile specialty area, it’s
applied to virtually all others
•
Global positioning systems
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Machine instrumentation and controls
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Data acquisition and
“Bioinformatics”—
biorobotics, machine
vision, sensors,
spectroscopy
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Electromagnetics
Structures & Environment
Engineering a healthy environment for living things
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Animal housing
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Grain storage
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Waste storage, recovery, reuse, transport
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Climate, ventilation, disease control systems
Power Systems & Machinery Design
Improving efficiency and conservation in agricultural, food, and
biological systems
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Agricultural tractors, combines, implements,
and transportation equipment
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Turf and landscape equipment
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Equipment for special crops
• Irrigation equipment
• Farmstead equipment
• Food processing equipment
Energy
Developing renewable energy sources, devising energy conservation
strategies to reduce costs and protect the environment
• Devising new ways of meeting the
energy needs of agriculture
• Meeting the energy needs of the
general population by using
agricultural products and byproducts
• Biomass, methane, vegetable oils
• Wind and solar energy
Aquacultural Engineering
Preserving our natural fish populations and habitats through improved
aquacultural practices.
• System design for fish farms
• Water quality, machinery, feeding,
ventilation
• Pollution reduction and water conservation
• Ecological reuse or disposal of waste
• Product harvesting, sorting and processing
Nursery & Greenhouse Engineering
A microcosm of large-scale production agriculture, with similar needs
• Irrigation, mechanization
• Disease and pest control
• Temperature, humidity, ventilation control
• Plant biology: tissue culture, seedling
propagation, hydroponics
Forestry
Applying engineering principles to forestry management and
conservation
• Machine-soil interaction and erosion control
• Operations analysis and improvement
• Equipment design
• Wood product design
• Access systems design and construction
Safety, Health and Ergonomics
Making agriculture safer, more efficient, and more economical
• Compile and analyze health and injury
data
• Standardize equipment for component
compatibility
• Encourage safe use of machinery,
equipment, and materials through better
design and better communication
Preparing for a College Career in
Biological and Agricultural Engineering
• Math
• Science—
especially life
sciences
• Writing and
Speaking—to
communicate
clearly and to
“sell” your ideas
“I found biological and agricultural engineering to be a
challenging field of study and very different from the typical
engineering fields. And, I have the chance to work in an
industry that affects everyone in the world!”
“Other university departments are so big and
impersonal, but my faculty took time to get to
know me and help me grow, personally as well as
academically. There is a real sense of community
in this major.”
“My studies prepared me
for the job market by
exposing me to many
different experiences and
scenarios that come
across in work.”
Safe and abundant
food and water
Timber and fiber for
shelter and clothing
www.asabe.org
A health environment in
which to live
Plentiful and
renewable
energy resources