Worldwide, the number of mouths to feed is growing, but food production creates great stress on the environment and climate. It’s the job of agronomists to find ways to provide people with a nutritious diet, while improving the environment and mitigating climate change. It’s a big challenge! Agronomy is the science and practice of growing plants that feed the world and doing it in a way that improves the planet. Our students, staff, and faculty conduct research, teaching, and Extension on ways to produce crops that feed the world, while promoting biodiversity, building soil, improving water resources and sequestering carbon.

With expertise in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, or the environment, you can address the U.S. priorities of food security, sustainable energy, and environmental quality. Graduates in these professional specialties not only provide answers and leadership to meet these growing challenges in the United States, but also exert global leadership in providing sustainable and organic food systems, clean and abundant water resources, and renewable energy to a world with a growing population and changing climate. We strive to create an inclusive and diverse environment and encourage you to join us as we create a better world.

Department of Agronomy Mission

The mission of the Department of Agronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is to enrich the benefits provided to humans by agroecosystems while building the capacity for future generations to do the same. We strive for a diverse and inclusive environment as we integrate research, teaching, extension, and outreach to improve the quantity and quality of agroecosystem yields while building soil, conserving water, retaining nutrients, and promoting biodiversity. We develop theories, conduct experiments, and integrate and disseminate knowledge from a variety of disciplines including plant and microbial sciences; ecology; and soil, water and atmospheric sciences. We train and develop the next generation of agronomic scientists and practitioners, while co-learning and engaging agricultural innovation to the people of Wisconsin and the world.

Department of Agronomy Vision

The Department of Agronomy is a community of world leaders in agricultural sciences generating new knowledge and solutions for novel and improved production practices and improved agroecosystem health. We aim to attract, recruit and train the best and brightest minds in the world with a focus on applied, interdisciplinary education founded on a positive, engaging, and inclusive working environment. We encourage innovation and risk-taking in the quest for cultivating healthy agroecosystems and creating a more sustainable world.