Career opportunities
The agricultural sector is expected to generate an additional 50,000 skilled jobs by 2050, so career opportunities are plentiful. Graduates will have the expertise to work in a diverse range of sectors, including:
- Biosecurity
- Education
- Environmental protection agencies
- Farming and horticulture
- Synthetic food production, food manufacturing and food assurance programmes
- Organic nutrient and fertiliser companies
- Government, e.g. in regulatory agencies
Gain the skills to drive innovation, sustainability and resilience in Aotearoa’s agriculture sector
Agricultural Innovation focuses on regenerative agriculture, sustainability, and climate change – all key to the future success of our country’s largest industry.
Read transcript
Kaitlyn Martin:
Hi, my name is Kaitlyn Martin, and I’m going to be the teaching fellow for Agricultural Innovation. This is a brand-new course at Otago. It’s really designed with climate change, sustainability, and regenerative agriculture and it's a brand-new course, it will involve a range of engaging practices, such as going on field trips and working with industry. It will also bring together a diverse group of academics from across the university.
Emeritus Professor Frank Griffin:
Hi, I’m Frank Griffin. I’m a Mercer’s Professor at the University of Otago, and I am the convener of a new degree course called Agricultural Innovation.
Agricultural Innovation is a completely new degree as part of the Bachelor of Applied Science programme at the University of Otago. It’s important to recognise that it is a Bachelor of Applied Science because the structure of that degree is quite different from other degrees in sciences or humanities. The nature of this degree is that it usually involves a combination of subjects.
Whereas agriculture is the primary component of the degree, we combine it with what we call minor subjects to create three possible degree pathways. One is agriculture plus science, which we call AgriTech. Another is agriculture and the environment, which we call AgriEnv. The third is AgriBiz, which combines commerce and agriculture. This structure is quite different from any other degree at the university, which is usually specialised and concentrates on one subject.
Why Agricultural Innovation? We’ve chosen this name specifically because we don’t want to reproduce existing agricultural degrees in New Zealand. You can go to Massey or Lincoln to do basic courses in agriculture, which are largely focused on the amount of food we can produce from the farm system in New Zealand.
We are taking a quite different approach. Instead of concentrating on how much food we can produce, we are focusing on the quality of the food and how we can manage the unique challenges at the interface between urban society and farmers. Farmers are now being held accountable for a whole lot of issues that impact the environment, various production systems, and ultimately the climate.
We want to introduce innovative, science-based approaches to properly evaluate these areas and ensure that the public are informed.
Agriculture is hugely important in New Zealand—it is our largest industry. The statistics show that over 50% of our economy is built around agriculture, and more than 80% of the food we produce is exported.
Agricultural Innovation is a new approach to managing the science involved in agriculture and understanding how it translates into business and environmental impact. This makes the degree distinct.
We have a lot of strengths at Otago, including a research group of over 60 scientists. The degree is a mixture of topics taken from all the schools on campus and provides a new and innovative approach to agriculture and its study.
How you will learn
Our programme is taught through a combination of lectures, labs and hands-on fieldwork. In each year of your degree, you’ll visit a farm that’s leading the way in sustainable practice, giving you the opportunity to observe a variety of agricultural activities first-hand.
You’ll also have the option to take papers in a variety of other subjects, including Food Science, Botany, Physics, Geography, Marketing, and Zoology, ensuring you'll graduate with a versatile skill set that employers are actively seeking.
Recommended high school subjects for undergraduate study
Year 13 papers in agricultural and horticultural science, agribusiness, biology, and chemistry are helpful but are not essential.
Choose a study option
Whether you're embarking on your academic journey with our comprehensive undergraduate programmes or aiming to reach new heights through our advanced postgraduate offerings, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Undergraduate qualifications
For new and current students studying towards a Bachelor's or other first degree. Explore undergraduate qualifications at Otago, designed to build a strong foundation in your chosen field, preparing you for a successful career or further study.
Note: this subject can also be studied as a minor.
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
A three-year degree offering flexibility to explore a major in Science along with other subjects
Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc)
Combine two majors, one in Arts and one in Science, into a four-year degree and expand your future career prospects
Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc)
Combine two majors, one in Commerce and one in Science, into a four-year degree and expand your future career prospects
Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr)
A three-year degree that equips you to change the world as you create new products, services and ideas
Ready to apply?
Take the first step towards your future in this subject.
Further study opportunities
Whether you are looking to bridge your undergraduate studies to advanced knowledge or aiming to specialise in a specific field, Otago offers a range of graduate and postgraduate options to suit your aspirations.
Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad)
The Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad), requiring study of at least seven papers (at least four of which are at 300-level o...
Graduate Study in Agricultural Innovation
Explore graduate study in Agricultural Innovation at Otago. Gain advanced knowledge, skills, and research opportunities ...
Agricultural Innovation stood out to me because it had a forward-thinking focus, looking beyond traditional methods and addressing the future of agriculture. The course encouraged me to think critically about how we can adapt to emerging challenges like climate change, sustainability and food security. I was inspired by the idea that innovation in this field can lead to meaningful improvements in the way we interact with and care for our ecosystems.
Hannah Smith
Bachelor of Applied Science (Agricultural Innovation, Microbiology)
Studying for a Master of Science (Biology), University of British Columbia
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Environment, climate change and sustainability
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Uniquely Otago
Learn more about programmes, qualifications, or outstanding facilities that you won't find elsewhere in Aotearoa
Sustainable strategies to feed a growing world
Agriculture is Aotearoa’s largest industry, contributing to over 50 per cent of our economy, yet farmers are facing growing accountability for environmental impacts and challenges within production systems. By studying Agricultural Innovation, you’ll be at the forefront of creating smarter, more efficient ways to produce food, manage resources, and tackle pressing challenges such as climate change, environmental sustainability, and rising global food demand.
Our teaching staff are involved in a wide range of research projects including developing an artificial intelligence-powered technique to test wine authenticity and traceability, and developing an antibiofilm spray to control food spoilage in the meat industry.
You’ll have opportunities to turn ideas into innovative solutions, with input and support from industry leaders. We also regularly feature guest speakers from farm consultancies, food production businesses, and animal welfare groups.
Programme details
Compare programmes for this subject.
Note above
| Year | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | AGRI 101 Agricultural Innovation | 18 |
| CELS 191 Cell and Molecular Biology | 18 | |
| FOSC 111 Food in a Changing World | 18 | |
| One of 100-level STAT, MATH or COMO paper | 18 | |
One of: | 18 | |
| Note: (i) Students who take a 100-level STAT, MATH or COMO paper as part of another minor's subject requirement are exempt from that requirement. (ii) The requirement for at least one Māori focused paper from the list above can be fulfilled in any year of study. | ||
| 200-level | AGRI 221 New Zealand Agricultural Systems | 18 |
One of: | 18 | |
| Note: GENE 222 or GENE 223 is a prerequistie for AGRI 323. | ||
| 300-level | AGRI 321 Agricultural Production and Food Security | 18 |
| AGRI 322 Innovation and Healthy Soils | 18 | |
| AGRI 323 Agricultural Genetics and Breeding | 18 | |
One of: | 18 | |
| Note: Head of Department approval, one 300-level paper may be replaced by another relevant 300-level paper. | ||
| Plus | 162 further points. Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Science. | 162 |
| Total | 360 |
A minor subject can be included in many of our undergraduate degrees. To earn a minor, you typically must complete a minimum of 90 points in that subject, with at least 18 points at the 300-level.
Your minor can be a subject more commonly taken for a different degree. For example, a BCom majoring in Marketing can include Japanese as a minor subject. To include this subject as a minor in your application, first find a major subject through our Subject Search or Study Match.
You can check what’s required to receive the minor accreditation in the programme details below.
Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | AGRI 101 Agricultural Innovation | 18 |
One of: | 18 | |
| 200-level | AGRI 221 New Zealand Agricultural Systems | 18 |
| 300-level | Two of: | 36 |
| Total | 90 |
Papers
View a list of all related papers below.
AGRI papers
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGRI101 | 2026 | Agricultural Innovation | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| AGRI221 | 2026 | New Zealand Agricultural Systems | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| AGRI321 | 2026 | Agriculture Production and Food Security | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| AGRI322 | 2026 | Innovation and Healthy Soils | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| AGRI323 | 2026 | Agricultural Genetics and Breeding | 18 points | Semester 2 |
More information
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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2026 Calendar and supplementary material.
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