ISCO-08 3142
Agricultural technicians
28.0%
ADI · 258th of 433 · 95% interval 13.7–42.7
An AI agent can at least partly carry out 28.0% of the task time of agricultural technicians, and finish 5.7% alone. The barrier that holds most of the rest back is access to the systems the work runs on.
ADI · partial or full28.0%
258th of 433 · interval 13.7–42.7
ADI3 · full delegation5.7%
67th of 433 · interval 0.0–14.9
ADIs · share of time32.2%
236th of 433 · interval 24.4–40.2
Evidence42
task statements rated by two models and weighted by importance and frequency. World employment: 0.5 million.
Task weight by level
How the tasks rate
L0No meaningful role · 21.2%L1Augmentation · 50.8%L2Partial delegation · 22.4%L3Full delegation · 5.7%
Barriers
What stops the agent
Share of task weight flagged by each barrier; a task can carry several.
42 task statements, heaviest first
| Task statement (O*NET occupation) | Weight | Level | Sonnet · Haiku | Share | Human time | Barriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taste or smell foods or beverages to ensure that flavors meet specifications or to select samples with specific characteristics.Food Science Technicians | 4.3% | L0 | L0L0 | 4% | 30 min | Physical presence |
| Measure, test, or weigh bottles, cans, or other containers to ensure that hardness, strength, or dimensions meet specifications.Food Science Technicians | 4.0% | L1 | L1L1 | 20% | 22 min | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Monitor and control temperature of products.Food Science Technicians | 4.0% | L1 | L1L2 | 35% | 45 min | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Maintain records of testing results or other documents as required by state or other governing agencies.Food Science Technicians | 3.9% | L2 | L2L2 | 68% | 52 min | Accountability, Access to systems |
| Analyze test results to classify products or compare results with standard tables.Food Science Technicians | 3.7% | L3 | L3L3 | 82% | 38 min | Accountability, Access to systems |
| Operate farm machinery, including tractors, plows, mowers, combines, balers, sprayers, earthmoving equipment, or trucks.Agricultural Technicians | 3.6% | L0 | L0L0 | 4% | 2.5 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Record or compile test results or prepare graphs, charts, or reports.Food Science Technicians | 3.3% | L2 | L2L3 | 75% | 1.3 h | Access to systems |
| Conduct standardized tests on food, beverages, additives, or preservatives to ensure compliance with standards and regulations regarding factors such as color, texture, or nutrients.Food Science Technicians | 3.2% | L1 | L1L2 | 28% | 1.3 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Supervise other food science technicians.Food Science Technicians | 3.2% | L1 | L1L2 | 30% | 2.5 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems |
| Prepare or incubate slides with cell cultures.Food Science Technicians · supplemental task | 3.1% | L0 | L0L1 | 8% | 50 min | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Perform regular maintenance of laboratory equipment by inspecting, calibrating, cleaning, or sterilizing.Food Science Technicians | 3.0% | L1 | L1L2 | 20% | 50 min | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Examine chemical or biological samples to identify cell structures or to locate bacteria or extraneous material, using a microscope.Food Science Technicians | 3.0% | L1 | L1L1 | 25% | 38 min | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Provide assistance to food scientists or technologists in research and development, production technology, or quality control.Food Science Technicians | 3.0% | L1 | L1L2 | 38% | 4.0 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Maintain or repair agricultural facilities, equipment, or tools to ensure operational readiness, safety, and cleanliness.Agricultural Technicians | 2.9% | L1 | L1L2 | 20% | 2.0 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care.Agricultural Technicians | 2.9% | L2 | L2L2 | 42% | 45 min | Physical presence, Access to systems |
Show the other 27 tasks
| Task statement (O*NET occupation) | Weight | Level | Sonnet · Haiku | Share | Human time | Barriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare land for cultivated crops, orchards, or vineyards by plowing, discing, leveling, or contouring.Agricultural Technicians | 2.8% | L1 | L1L1 | 12% | 3.5 h | Physical presence |
| Compute moisture or salt content, percentages of ingredients, formulas, or other product factors, using mathematical and chemical procedures.Food Science Technicians | 2.6% | L2 | L3L2 | 75% | 30 min | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Mix, blend, or cultivate ingredients to make reagents or to manufacture food or beverage products.Food Science Technicians · supplemental task | 2.5% | L0 | L0L0 | 8% | 52 min | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Perform crop production duties, such as tilling, hoeing, pruning, weeding, or harvesting crops.Agricultural Technicians | 2.5% | L0 | L0L0 | 4% | 3.0 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Examine animals or crop specimens to determine the presence of diseases or other problems.Agricultural Technicians | 2.2% | L1 | L1L2 | 28% | 38 min | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Measure or weigh ingredients used in laboratory testing.Agricultural Technicians · supplemental task | 2.2% | L0 | L0L0 | 5% | 18 min | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Prepare laboratory samples for analysis, following proper protocols to ensure that they will be stored, prepared, and disposed of efficiently and effectively.Agricultural Technicians · supplemental task | 2.1% | L1 | L1L1 | 18% | 52 min | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Order supplies needed to maintain inventories in laboratories or in storage facilities of food or beverage processing plants.Food Science Technicians | 2.0% | L2 | L2L2 | 70% | 38 min | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Prepare data summaries, reports, or analyses that include results, charts, or graphs to document research findings and results.Agricultural Technicians · supplemental task | 1.9% | L3 | L3L3 | 78% | 3.5 h | Access to systems |
| Conduct studies of nitrogen or alternative fertilizer application methods, quantities, or timing to ensure satisfaction of crop needs and minimization of leaching, runoff, or denitrification.Agricultural Technicians · supplemental task | 1.9% | L2 | L2L2 | 50% | 24 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Supervise pest or weed control operations, including locating and identifying pests or weeds, selecting chemicals and application methods, or scheduling application.Agricultural Technicians · supplemental task | 1.9% | L2 | L2L2 | 42% | 2.8 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Perform general nursery duties, such as propagating standard varieties of plant materials, collecting and germinating seeds, maintaining cuttings of plants, or controlling environmental conditions.Agricultural Technicians · supplemental task | 1.9% | L1 | L1L1 | 16% | 2.8 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Set up laboratory or field equipment as required for site testing.Agricultural Technicians | 1.9% | L1 | L1L1 | 18% | 1.5 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Perform laboratory or field testing, using spectrometers, nitrogen determination apparatus, air samplers, centrifuges, or potential hydrogen (pH) meters to perform tests.Agricultural Technicians · supplemental task | 1.8% | L1 | L1L1 | 15% | 1.3 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Supervise or train agricultural technicians or farm laborers.Agricultural Technicians | 1.8% | L1 | L1L2 | 30% | 3.0 h | Physical presence, Trust and care, Access to systems |
| Record environmental data from field samples of soil, air, water, or pests to monitor the effectiveness of integrated pest management (IPM) practices.Agricultural Technicians · supplemental task | 1.8% | L1 | L1L2 | 32% | 1.5 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Collect animal or crop samples.Agricultural Technicians | 1.8% | L0 | L0L1 | 10% | 52 min | Physical presence |
| Perform tests on seeds to evaluate seed viability.Agricultural Technicians · supplemental task | 1.8% | L1 | L1L1 | 25% | 1.8 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Devise cultural methods or environmental controls for plants for which guidelines are sketchy or nonexistent.Agricultural Technicians · supplemental task | 1.7% | L2 | L2L2 | 52% | 22 h | Physical presence |
| Conduct insect or plant disease surveys.Agricultural Technicians · supplemental task | 1.6% | L1 | L1L2 | 30% | 3.5 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Determine the germination rates of seeds planted in specified areas.Agricultural Technicians · supplemental task | 1.4% | L1 | L1L2 | 32% | 1.5 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Prepare culture media, following standard procedures.Agricultural Technicians · supplemental task | 1.3% | L1 | L1L1 | 15% | 1.3 h | Physical presence, Accountability |
| Train newly hired laboratory personnel.Food Science Technicians | 1.3% | L1 | L1L2 | 32% | 6.0 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems |
| Transplant trees, vegetables, or horticultural plants.Agricultural Technicians · supplemental task | 1.2% | L0 | L0L1 | 6% | 2.3 h | Physical presence |
| Respond to general inquiries or requests from the public.Agricultural Technicians · supplemental task | 1.2% | L2 | L2L2 | 68% | 15 min | Accountability, Access to systems |
| Prepare or present agricultural demonstrations.Agricultural Technicians · supplemental task | 1.0% | L1 | L1L2 | 35% | 3.0 h | Physical presence, Trust and care, Access to systems |
| Assess comparative soil erosion from various planting or tillage systems, such as conservation tillage with mulch or ridge till systems, no-till systems, or conventional tillage systems with or without moldboard plows.Agricultural Technicians · supplemental task | 1.0% | L2 | L2L2 | 60% | 4.5 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
Level: consensus of the two models (the lower level when they disagree). Share: part of the task’s working time an agent could take over. Human time: minutes a competent person needs for one instance, as estimated by the models.
Against other measures
Exposure is not delegation
| Measure | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| ADI (this index) | 28.0% | 41 |
| Eloundou et al. (2024), GPT exposure β | 0.311 | 49 |
| Felten et al. (2021), AI occupational exposure | 0.096 | 53 |
| Webb (2020), AI patent exposure | 84 | 81 |
| Eisfeldt et al. (2026), generative AI exposure | 0.325 | 70 |
| Anthropic Economic Index, observed use | 0.105 | 73 |
Earlier indices measure whether AI can touch a task; ADI measures how much of it an agent can carry out from a goal. – : the source does not cover this occupation.
Same sub-major group (31)
Neighbouring occupations
| Occupation | ADI | % |
|---|---|---|
| Process control technicians not elsewhere classified 3139 | 91.1 | |
| Draughtspersons 3118 | 82.3 | |
| Mining supervisors 3121 | 71.6 | |
| Construction supervisors 3123 | 71.6 | |
| Chemical and physical science technicians 3111 | 69.7 | |
| Electronics engineering technicians 3114 | 60.2 | |
| Civil engineering technicians 3112 | 57.6 | |
| Manufacturing supervisors 3122 | 56.5 | |
| Air traffic safety electronics technicians 3155 | 54.7 | |
| Mining and metallurgical technicians 3117 | 51.5 | |
| Physical and engineering science technicians not elsewhere classified 3119 | 51.1 | |
| Mechanical engineering technicians 3115 | 50.0 |
Dashed line: agricultural technicians (28.0%).
Cite this record
Text
Espinal Maya, Cristian, and Santiago Jiménez Londoño. 2026. ADI v2026.1: Agent Delegability Index data, code and MCP server. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23552918. Record: Agricultural technicians (ISCO-08 3142), https://balamlabs.org/adi/occupations/3142
BibTeX
@misc{espinal2026adidata,
title = {{ADI} v2026.1: Agent Delegability Index data, code and {MCP} server},
author = {Espinal Maya, Cristian and Jim{\'e}nez Londo{\~n}o, Santiago},
year = {2026},
publisher = {Zenodo},
version = {v2026.1},
doi = {10.5281/zenodo.23552918},
url = {https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23552918},
note = {Record: Agricultural technicians (ISCO-08 3142)}
}Machine-readable
The same record as static JSON, with its citation: /adi/v2026.1/isco/3142.json.