Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella (; 4 – c. 70 AD) is the most important writer on agriculture of the
Roman empire. Little is known of his life. He was probably born in
Gades,
Hispania Baetica (modern
Cádiz), possibly of Roman parents. After a career in the army (he was
tribune in
Syria in 35), he took up farming. His
Res rustica in twelve volumes has been completely preserved and forms an important source on
Roman agriculture, together with the works of
Cato the Elder and
Varro, both of which he occasionally cites. A smaller book on trees,
De arboribus, is usually attributed to him.