Careers in Horticultural Science

Prof. David GuestFaculty of Agriculture, Food and

Natural Resources

University of Sydney

Horticulture means gardening doesn’t it?

• That’s a hobby for old people

• You don’t make money from gardening!

• Growing plants isn’t cool

• “Oh, you can tell me what’s wrong with my lemon tree”

WRONG!• Who put the flavour back

into your strawberries and melons?

• Who developed waratah and flannel flowers for cut flowers?

• Who is solving problems in soil salinity?

• Why is our viticulture industry so successful ?

• Why is our food safer to eat?

• Who leads the way in water management?

Horticulturalists do!

Art of horticulture applies SCIENCE to the

production, marketing, use and improvement of fruit, vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants and the conservation of natural environments

What is so special about horticulture?

• Industries have a clean and green image

• Playing a major role in improving our environment

• Horticulture industry is the fastest growing sector agriculture

What do horticulturalists do?

• Develop new crops• Improve food quality

and nutrition• Develop new

technologies in crop production and storage

• Develop environmentally friendly ways to do this which leads to sustainable industry

What are some Australian achievements in Horticulture?

• Pink Lady Apple – plant breeding

• Control of flowering – molecular biology

• Large non-cracking cherries – selection and production

• Partial root zone irrigation – irrigation science and plant physiology

• Environmentally friendly pest oils - entomology

• Bruising resistant potatoes – transgenic plants

• Commercialisation of native flora – botany, population genetics and production

• “Guaranteed Sweet” melons – postharvest biology, production

What can Sydney University Offer• 4 year horticultural

Science degree

• Excellent foundation in science

• Communication, problem-solving, analysis

• Opportunity to specialise in area of choice

The Bachelor of Horticultural Science

Year 1

• Horticultural Science 1

• Biology

• Economics

• Chemistry

• Biometry

Year 2

• Horticultural Science 2

• Plant Biochemistry

• Australian Flora

• Entomology

• Microbiology

• Biometry

• Plant Form and Function

• Soil Science

The BHortSci (cont’d)

Year 3

• Horticultural Science 3• Plant Genetics• Food Biochemistry• Postharvest Biology• Plant Disease• Experimental Design• Agribusiness• Flower and Nursery• Biotechnology• Environmental Chemistry

Year 4• Research Thesis – 50%• Choice of Specialisation in:

Sustainable ProductionPlant BreedingPlant PathologyEnvironmental or Food ChemistryMarketing and Agribusiness

The BHortSci (cont’d)

Exciting Features• 18 weeks work

experience• Field based learning• Scholarships• Dean’s List for academic

achievement• International exchange• Participation in

international aid programs e.g. Vietnam and China

What are our graduates doing?• Research Scientists - Royal

Botanic Gardens• Buyers and quality control in

supermarkets• Managers – hydroponics,

turf, vineyards• Industry Development

Officers • Plant Breeding• Molecular Biologists• Plant pathologists• International aid• Marketing• Env. Protection Agency

More Hort Information?

Contact:

Michele Gairn – 02 9351 2936Robyn McConchie 02 9351 4332

mcconchier@agric.usyd.edu.au David Guest

guestd@agric.usyd.edu.au

Web: www.agric.usyd.edu.au/