Source: NCSU COLLEGE OF AG & LIFE SCIENCES, 5/5/21
Despite the breadth, complexity and impact of regulation in the agricultural industry, no formal university certificate program in agriculture has ever focused on regulatory science–until now.
NC State’s Regulatory Science in Agriculture certificate programs for undergraduate and graduate students are the first two in the nation developed specifically to prepare students and industry professionals for the complex world of agricultural regulation.
Keith Edmisten, professor and regulatory program coordinator, says that companies spend a lot of time and money training scientists and staff on regulations, and they eagerly look to NC State for help increasing regulatory science awareness before students enter the workforce.
“Scientists need to be aware of regulation at every stage of product planning and development, as they design, conduct, and potentially cancel research programs around these products if it becomes likely they won’t meet regulatory standards,” said Edmisten. “Our program provides this background so that companies spend less time and energy on training.”
Edmisten says that the certificate program makes a meaningful connection for students and the companies and government agencies who hire them.
“Some scientists go into industry thinking it’s for them, until they find out it isn’t,” Edmisten said. “Students in our program know what to expect when they work in the regulatory sciences, and they are here because they want to work in this field. This program creates a strong bond for students and employers.”
NC State has developed introductory and advanced courses for undergraduate and graduate students, and routinely trains 15-20 students in each course. The result of this work, Edmisten says, is a program like no other in America.
“There are regulatory programs at other universities, but they are all related to the medical industry. This is the first program like this in the nation focused on agriculture,” he said.
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