Soil and Plant Scientists

Conduct research in breeding, physiology, production, yield, and management of crops and agricultural plants or trees, shrubs, and nursery stock, their growth in soils, and control of pests; or study the chemical, physical, biological, and mineralogical composition of soils as they relate to plant or crop growth. May classify and map soils and investigate effects of alternative practices on soil and crop productivity.

The occupation of "Soil and Plant Scientists" has an automation risk of 48.1%, which is closely aligned with its base risk of 49.1%. This moderate risk level is influenced by the nature of tasks performed in the field, many of which involve communication and the practical application of established scientific methods. For instance, some of the most automatable tasks include: communicating research or project results to other professionals or the public or teaching related courses, developing methods of conserving or managing soil that can be implemented by farmers or forestry companies, and providing recommendations about land use, plant growth, or erosion prevention. These tasks often follow repeatable procedures and involve structured information transfer, making them more amenable to automation through advanced AI-driven tools, automated reporting systems, or expert advisory software. Despite the presence of automatable elements, the occupation remains partially resistant to complete automation due to the inherent complexity and creativity required for certain tasks. The top three most resistant tasks include conducting research into the use of plant species as green fuels or in biofuel production, planning or supervising land conservation or reclamation programs for industrial development, and studying insect distribution or habitat with recommendations to prevent the spread of injurious species. These responsibilities demand a high level of expertise, interdisciplinary knowledge, and the ability to synthesize complex environmental, biological, and chemical data—traits that current AI technologies find challenging to replicate. Human oversight is also crucial when context-sensitive judgment and adaptability are required, such as in novel research settings or unpredictable field conditions. Key bottleneck skills that limit further automation of soil and plant scientist roles include originality, with measured levels at 3.9% and 4.0%. Originality is essential in this profession, as scientists must often devise novel approaches to solve unique agricultural or ecological problems, whether through experimental design, the development of new conservation techniques, or innovative interpretation of data. Tasks that require creative problem-solving and hypothesis generation are resistant to algorithmic solutions, which generally excel at routine and data-driven functions but struggle with the kind of flexible, lateral thinking characteristic of pioneering research. As a result, even with ongoing technological advancements, the demand for human ingenuity and contextual understanding will likely keep automation risk in this occupation at moderate levels.