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Science & Research · Updated Aug 2026

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.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
AI Exposure
73/100
High

How much of this occupation’s work can be materially affected by current AI systems.

Replacement Risk
59/100
Moderate

How likely exposure is to translate into reduced human demand.

Includes provisional estimates for AI adoption pressure and labour-market resilience. How this is measured

Evidence quality
Confidence83/100
Task coverage86%

Confidence reflects task coverage, mapping and capability-evidence quality, and how much of the score rests on provisional inputs.

Task-level evidence

What is driving the score?

Occupation scores are built from the task mix—not a single prediction about a job title.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
TaskImportanceAI impactExposure
Communicate research or project results to other professionals or the public or teach related courses, seminars, or workshops.High
73
Provide information or recommendations to farmers or other landowners regarding ways in which they can best use land, promote plant growth, or avoid or correct problems such as erosion.High
74
Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the use capabilities of soils and the effects of alternative practices on soil productivity.Medium
74
Develop methods of conserving or managing soil that can be applied by farmers or forestry companies.High
75
Conduct experiments to develop new or improved varieties of field crops, focusing on characteristics such as yield, quality, disease resistance, nutritional value, or adaptation to specific soils or climates.High
74
Investigate soil problems or poor water quality to determine sources and effects.Medium
75
Conduct experiments to investigate the underlying mechanisms of plant growth and response to the environment.Medium
74
Study soil characteristics to classify soils on the basis of factors such as geographic location, landscape position, or soil properties.Medium
76
Develop new or improved methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or insect pests.Medium
75
Identify degraded or contaminated soils and develop plans to improve their chemical, biological, or physical characteristics.Medium
74
Study ways to improve agricultural sustainability, such as the use of new methods of composting.Medium
76
Develop environmentally safe methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or pests.Medium
75
Perform chemical analyses of the microorganism content of soils to determine microbial reactions or chemical mineralogical relationships to plant growth.Medium
74
Provide advice regarding the development of regulatory standards for land reclamation or soil conservation.Medium
75
Develop improved measurement techniques, soil conservation methods, soil sampling devices, or related technology.Medium
75
Develop ways of altering soils to suit different types of plants.Medium
75
Consult with engineers or other technical personnel working on construction projects about the effects of soil problems and possible solutions to these problems.Medium
76
Conduct research to determine best methods of planting, spraying, cultivating, harvesting, storing, processing, or transporting horticultural products.Medium
48
Survey undisturbed or disturbed lands for classification, inventory, mapping, environmental impact assessments, environmental protection planning, conservation planning, or reclamation planning.Medium
74
Most exposed

Where AI can do more

Routine, digitized, and highly repeatable tasks face the greatest pressure.

  1. Study soil characteristics to classify soils on the basis of factors such as geographic location, landscape position, or soil properties.76
  2. Study ways to improve agricultural sustainability, such as the use of new methods of composting.76
  3. Consult with engineers or other technical personnel working on construction projects about the effects of soil problems and possible solutions to these problems.76
  4. Develop methods of conserving or managing soil that can be applied by farmers or forestry companies.75
Hardest to automate

Where people still matter

These tasks score lowest on automation feasibility—physical presence, judgement, accountability and real-world variability all resist end-to-end automation.

  1. Conduct research to determine best methods of planting, spraying, cultivating, harvesting, storing, processing, or transporting horticultural products.01
  2. Provide information or recommendations to farmers or other landowners regarding ways in which they can best use land, promote plant growth, or avoid or correct problems such as erosion.02
  3. Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the use capabilities of soils and the effects of alternative practices on soil productivity.03
  4. Develop methods of conserving or managing soil that can be applied by farmers or forestry companies.04
  5. Conduct experiments to develop new or improved varieties of field crops, focusing on characteristics such as yield, quality, disease resistance, nutritional value, or adaptation to specific soils or climates.05
Where else this work leads

Related occupations

Occupations O*NET links to this one. Relatedness reflects shared work, not a claim that these roles are safer.

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Beyond AI capability

Adoption and labour-market outlook

Structural factors are kept separate from raw capability so you can see what actually resists automation. Adoption pressure and labour-market resilience are still provisional models—25% of this occupation’s replacement-risk weight rests on them.

Human dependency68
Physical dependency49
Adoption pressure63
Labour-market resilience62
Methodology & sources

O*NET 30.3 occupational data interpreted through the JobsVsAI capability, automation and structural-constraint models.

Confidence83/100
CalculatedAug 21, 2026
Read methodology →