Agronomic engineer, Agro-technology application technician

An agronomist is the professional who uses electronics, IT and telecommunications to develop applications in agriculture, stockbreeding, fishing and aquaculture that allow for the optimisation of existing resources, whether they are natural (automated resources, solar power for agricultural concerns and ranchers), as well as economics (software for the profitability of cultivations, management of greenhouses and crops and the automatisation of animal feeding processes, etc.). This is the discipline referred to as Agricultural Technologies.

• Designs, selects and adequately uses digital, analogical or mixed equipment in the field of the electronics, IT and telecommunications that can be applied to agriculture, stockbreeding, fishing or aquaculture (primary production sector).
• Develops applications with the assistance of instruments provided by electronics, robotics and IT that allow variables to be controlled and actions to be carried out to improve the performance and quality of the product.
• Create devices applicable to machinery (tractors, pickers, etc.) or facilities (greenhouses, farms, fish farms, etc.) that allow designed actions to be carried out.
• Interpret data information and work with them so that they can be an useful instrument in decision making.
• Manufacture prototypes and carry out appropriate testing and modifications.
• Solve customer enquires and take decisions using the data extracted from these instruments.
• Formulate, set out and provide policies for the acquisition of specialised electronic equipment.
• Carry out the maintenance of electronic equipments, used for specific purposes.
• Participate in research projects and programmes.

Regulated training and graduates

• Grau: Enginyeria agrícola
• Grau: Enginyeria mecatrònica
• Grau: Enginyeria en tecnologies industrials
• Grau: Enginyeria electrònica industrial i automàtica
• Grau: Enginyeria de sistemes electrònics
• Grau: Enginyeria de sistemes i serveis de telecomunicacions

Complementary training

Other specific skills

Analytical thought: Level 3

Creativity: Level 3

Initiative: Level 3

Learning and use of knowledge: Level 1

Customer orientation: Level 3

Planning and organisation: Level 2

New technologies

People who show an interest in this field are motivated by the development and advanced use of new technologies in any of their applications (software, hardware, telecommunications) from an innovative perspective and in accordance with the continuous updates of technologies, programmes and equipment that appear on the market. The design, installation, management and maintenance of computer systems and new technologies are activities specific to this field.

Technician

People who show an interest in the technical field find fulfilment in carrying out activities related to the design and manufacture of objects, machines, vehicles and/or infrastructures. These activities require the application of scientific and technical knowledge (laws of physics, calculations and mathematical formulas, properties of the materials, etc). Creativity is also necessary when coming up with optimal solutions for the functional requirements of the products to be designed. Therefore, the pragmatic application of scientific knowledge in order to develop solutions for the benefit of human beings is the main function of occupations in the technical field.

Agrotechnology application expert

PLC programmer

Radio frequency and microwave engineer

Gas Network Operator

Avionics development engineer

• Work hours

  Full-time, hours adapted to the time demands of fieldwork, which are contingent on the seasonal nature of farming.

• Other features

  Agricultural Technology is a budding activity within the agricultural sector and part of its development is led by European Union research projects, carried out by private research companies or university research groups with or without agreement collective labour agreements. It must be kept in mind that the productivity of the agricultural sector is subject to the agricultural policies of the European community, the PAC (European Union Agricultural Policy) that involves reviews, subsidies and restrictions in accordance with production types. Lines of research can be opened or closed.

• Human resources and equipment

  An office space is necessary in order to localise hardware and to work on data collected in the field. Occasionally, and depending on the type of project, a part of the working day will be spent in the field.

• Initial investments

  You will need a management system (software and hardware), vehicle and means of communication (telephone). Necessary start-up expenses (licence fees, buying computers, renting an office, etc.)