Agricultural chemistry is the study of both
chemistry and
biochemistry which are important in agricultural
production, the processing of raw
products into foods and beverages, and in
environmental monitoring and
remediation. These studies emphasize the relationships between plants, animals and bacteria and their
environment. The science of chemical compositions and changes involved in the production, protection, and use of crops and livestock. As a basic science, it embraces, in addition to test-tube chemistry, all the life processes through which humans obtain food and fiber for themselves and feed for their animals. As an applied science or technology, it is directed toward control of those processes to increase yields, improve quality, and reduce costs. One important branch of it,
chemurgy, is concerned chiefly with utilization of agricultural products as chemical
raw materials.