Agricultural Technology and Food Systems (BS)

The Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Technology and Food Systems prepares students for supervisory and technical careers in the Central Valley’s food processing and agribusiness industries. The degree is applied and interdisciplinary to enable students to access diverse and exciting careers in food safety and quality systems, processing operations, precision agriculture, sustainability and natural resources management, and leadership. 

Building on the Associate of Science in Agricultural Technology and Food Systems, through hands-on, applied training at the AgTEC Innovation Center, Merced College Smart Farm, and the Center for Ag Robotics and Entrepreneurship, students gain real-world experience across the agricultural value chain, including production, processing, packaging, and distribution. Graduates are prepared for careers production supervisors, environmental health and safety, agricultural inspectors, and operations managers in regional agricultural and food systems industries. 

The program is designed as a 2+2 pathway, allowing students to complete a Bachelor of Science degree locally while advancing their careers. 

Career opportunities include agricultural technicians, food science technicians, agricultural inspectors, food scientists and food technologists, and transportation, distribution, and storage managers. There are many agricultural technology companies in the state, and this degree pathway prepares participants to work in technology adoption, implementation, troubleshooting, decision-making and data science in agricultural and food applications.  

The Bachelor of Science Degree is available upon satisfactory completion of the graduation requirements in addition to an AS degree in a related field.  

Based on facility sizes, active experiential learning pedagogy, student interest survey data, and a current student enrollment in courses (~1700 per semester take agriculture courses), we anticipate enrollment of:  

Year 1 enrollment: 15-25 students who hold AS degrees. 
Year 2 enrollment: 20-30 students who hold AS degrees. Students in the AS in Agricultural Technology and Food Systems can access the BS degree in 2029. 

Annual completers are anticipated at 20 per year, with a range of 15-30 per year. 

The primary goal of the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Technology and Food Systems is to address critical workforce shortages in California’s Central Valley by preparing graduates for high-demand, mid-level and supervisory roles in food processing, packaging, quality assurance, and agribusiness operations. Target occupations include food safety and quality assurance managers, production supervisors, processing technicians, environmental health and safety managers, and operations managers, with entry-level wages typically ranging from $25 to $40 per hour and strong opportunities for career advancement. 

Students will develop advanced technical and leadership skills across meat, nut, fruit, and vegetable processing systems, with an emphasis on precision agriculture, automation, sustainability, and regulatory compliance. The program integrates hands-on, industry-aligned training to ensure graduates are prepared to lead modern, technology-driven agricultural and food systems. 

A secondary objective is to expand equitable access to baccalaureate education for place-bound and historically underserved students in the region. The program is designed as a seamless 2+2 pathway, building directly on the Associate of Science degree and allowing students to complete a Bachelor of Science degree locally while maintaining employment and community ties. This stackable model supports upward economic mobility and strengthens the regional workforce pipeline in one of California’s most critical industries. 

The proposed Bachelor of Science pathway in Agricultural Technology and Food Systems is designed to complement existing agriculture, workforce, and Career Technical Education offerings by providing advanced upper-division training aligned with the rapidly evolving needs of California agriculture. While current programs provide foundational instruction in agricultural sciences, mechanics, and business operations, this program uniquely integrates precision agriculture, food processing technology, sustainability, regulatory compliance, agribusiness innovation, and applied technology into a comprehensive workforce pathway. Courses such as Food Safety and Quality Control, Meat Processing Technology, Precision Agriculture, Farm Systems Management, and Agribusiness Technology prepare students with specialized technical and operational skills that are increasingly required across the agricultural and food production sectors. No current regional program combines advanced agricultural technology, climate-smart practices, food systems management, and applied experiential learning in this manner, creating a distinct pathway for students pursuing high-skill agricultural careers. 

The program directly addresses workforce and economic development priorities within California’s agricultural economy by preparing graduates to lead in areas including automation, sustainable production, food safety, water management, and agricultural innovation. Coursework in Sustainable Farming Practices, Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems, Advanced Soil and Water Management, Agricultural Waste Management, and Regulatory Compliance equips students with practical knowledge to support resilient and environmentally responsible agricultural operations. Hands-on learning opportunities through the Tech-Enhanced Farm Practicum, Professional Internship, and Senior Project/Capstone ensure students gain real-world experience and industry connections prior to graduation. Combined with upper-division coursework in ethics, diversity, global issues, and professional development, the program develops graduates who possess both the technical competencies and leadership skills needed to support the future of California agriculture and regional economic vitality. 

Food processors and producers in Merced County and the Central Valley of California are adopting new technologies and tools and need workforce to be able to run, troubleshoot and improve operations. The local industry relies on hundreds of skilled employees to handle timely produce and supply chain issues. This program fills a clear and unique workforce gap for leaders with technical acumen and a depth of skills in the food system. There is strong local employer demand based on committee meetings, field trips, and interviews. This program maximizes the use of the new AgTEC Innovation Center as a training facility: 22,000 square feet of nutrition labs, student-run market store, and industry-standard meat, nut, fruit, and vegetable processing facilities. The low-cost bachelor’s degree pathway provides local students with an opportunity to learn and to work close to home, further supporting our communities. The Upper Division General Education components will be aligned with the California State University System, requiring 9 units in 3 areas at the 300+ level. Merced College is preparing to offer these courses. 

The Bachelor of Science Degree is available upon satisfactory completion of the graduation requirements in addition to an AS degree in a related field.  

Students may select from emphasis in food processing or in agricultural technology and choose courses from these upper division offerings. The required core courses are noted*.