Will AI replace Soil and Plant Scientists?

AI can do 86% of the work Soil and Plant Scientists do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 2 of their 27 tasks, while 20 more are ready but barely used so far. Robots can technically handle 4 physical tasks. 1 still needs a person.

AI is already doing this2 · 17% of time

People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.

  • Communicate research or project results to other professionals or the public or teach related courses, seminars, or workshops.Mostly assisted15% of time
  • Identify or classify species of insects or allied forms, such as mites or spiders.Mostly automated1% of time

AI could do this next20 · 69% of time

AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.

  • 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.8% of time
  • 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.8% of time
  • Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the use capabilities of soils and the effects of alternative practices on soil productivity.4% of time
  • Develop methods of conserving or managing soil that can be applied by farmers or forestry companies.4% of time
  • Investigate soil problems or poor water quality to determine sources and effects.4% of time
  • Study soil characteristics to classify soils on the basis of factors such as geographic location, landscape position, or soil properties.4% of time
  • Survey undisturbed or disturbed lands for classification, inventory, mapping, environmental impact assessments, environmental protection planning, conservation planning, or reclamation planning.4% of time
  • Develop new or improved methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or insect pests.4% of time
  • Conduct research to determine best methods of planting, spraying, cultivating, harvesting, storing, processing, or transporting horticultural products.4% of time
  • Develop improved measurement techniques, soil conservation methods, soil sampling devices, or related technology.3% of time
  • Identify degraded or contaminated soils and develop plans to improve their chemical, biological, or physical characteristics.3% of time
  • Develop ways of altering soils to suit different types of plants.3% of time
  • Develop environmentally safe methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or pests.3% of time
  • Study ways to improve agricultural sustainability, such as the use of new methods of composting.3% of time
  • Provide advice regarding the development of regulatory standards for land reclamation or soil conservation.1% of time
  • Consult with engineers or other technical personnel working on construction projects about the effects of soil problems and possible solutions to these problems.1% of time
  • Conduct research into the use of plant species as green fuels or in the production of green fuels.1% of time
  • Research technical requirements or environmental impacts of urban green spaces, such as green roof installations.1% of time
  • Plan or supervise waste management programs for composting or farming.1% of time
  • Plan or supervise land conservation or reclamation programs for industrial development projects.1% of time

Robots can technically do this4 · 13% of time

Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.

  • Conduct experiments to investigate the underlying mechanisms of plant growth and response to the environment.Robots: purpose built settings7% of time
  • Conduct experiments investigating how soil forms, changes, or interacts with land-based ecosystems or living organisms.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Perform chemical analyses of the microorganism content of soils to determine microbial reactions or chemical mineralogical relationships to plant growth.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Conduct experiments regarding causes of bee diseases or factors affecting yields of nectar or pollen.Robots: purpose built settingsunder 1% of time

Still needs a person1 · 1% of time

No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.

  • Study insect distribution or habitat and recommend methods to prevent importation or spread of injurious species.1% of time

Your week is not the average

Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.

Get my personal report

What this means

AI can already do almost all of this work at least twice as fast. Real use is still behind at 13 out of 100, so the change here is only getting started. Expect the role to shift toward deciding what to do, checking AI's work and owning the result.

What to do next

  • Do the 2 tasks AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
  • Get ahead on the 20 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
  • Keep an eye on the 4 physical tasks robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
  • Build on the 1 task that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
Animal Scientists98%Food Scientists and Technologists74%Conservation Scientists81%Park Naturalists77%Geneticists75%Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists75%

Get the weekly brief

One short email a week on how AI is changing work, including jobs like this one.

Check another job