controlled environment agriculture
HOW LONG HAS THE SFCC CEA DEGREE
PROGRAM BEEN IN PLACE AND WHAT WAS
THE MOTIVATION FOR STARTING IT?
The program at SFCC has been in existence for five years
now. The program name, originally called Greenhouse
Management, was changed in 2017 to Controlled
Environment Agriculture. The motivation in creating
the program was to address the community demand for
year-round food production. With our
program, we offer specialized
training for food production
facilities, which addresses
regional food security
while producing safe
food products.
“The primary emphasis
of the program is the
PRODUCTION OF
BOTH FOOD AND
MEDICINAL CROPS
using soilless culture
techniques (hydroponics
and aquaponics).”
WHAT IS THE PRIMARY EMPHASIS
OF SFCC’S CEA EDUCATION?
The primary emphasis of the program is the production
of both food and medicinal crops using soilless culture
techniques (hydroponics and aquaponics). Also, workforce
skills training is the focus of the certificate or associate
degree paths we offer our students. Our program is
designed to collaborate with other sustainable technology
programs within our school to address food, energy, and
water issues as they relate to agricultural production.
OF THE MANY FACETS OF THE CEA INDUSTRY,
WHICH WOULD YOU SAY IS LACKING THE
MOST IN PROFESSIONAL HELP?
Systems training. CEA professionals need to have
hands-on experience using a variety of systems commonly
operated in urban and vertical farming. As such, the
ability to troubleshoot and solve problems as they arise
are unique skill sets for newly trained students. With
SFCC’s well-developed internship program, our students
work as independent contractors at SFCC as well as with
local industry partners, giving them real world, hands-on
experience with CEA systems.
WHAT SORT OF JOBS ARE YOUR STUDENTS
ATTAINING UPON GRADUATION?
Our students have been gaining employment with
greenhouse produce growing facilities, as well as
medicinal crop cultivation companies. However, some of
SFCC’s graduates have started their own urban agriculture
businesses and a small percentage pursue higher
education at universities.
HOW IMPORTANT IS TECHNOLOGY TO THE CEA
MOVEMENT AND HOW IS THE CEA PROGRAM
AT SFCC ADDRESSING THIS NOTION?
Students need more than just a green thumb to participate
in this growing field. They also need to be technically
inclined. For starters, HVAC skills will continue to be in
high demand. Also, research will continue into energy and
water conservation, with new technology being developed
88
grow cycle