to help lessen carbon footprints from the intensification of food production . At SFCC we are currently running two models that utilize vertical space in shipping containers — using both aquaponics and conventional hydroponic systems . These operations give students some good experience with current CEA technologies pertaining to lighting , air quality , and fertigation systems .
WOULD YOU SAY THE PROGRAM AT SFCC IS MORE INVOLVED WITH COMMUNITY-BASED AGRICULTURAL EFFORTS AND PROGRAMS THAN LARGER UNIVERSITIES ? Yes ! Our mission is to “ empower students and strengthen community .” To this end , we work with indigenous communities and schools to promote CEA awareness for entrepreneurship and food security purposes . Also , we are in the process of developing a continuing education program revolved around all aspects of CEA for the local agriculture community . Finally , SFCC is partnered with community organizations to develop food initiatives based on an open door policy for our operations in the spreading of CEA awareness .
HOW WOULD YOU SAY THE DEGREE PROGRAM AT SFCC PROMOTES NOTIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS THAT COMES HAND-IN-HAND WITH URBAN AGRICULTURE ? SFCC is involved in environmentalism through our CEA coursework with emphasis on sustainable agriculture , as well as community and state outreach programs . To illustrate , populations of New Mexico , like most states , are concentrated in urban centers . As such , most food in Santa Fe is imported from long distances — oftentimes from ecologically unsustainable farming operations .
SFCC ’ s CEA program trains students to produce food in sustainable fashions directly within urban centers , such as Santa Fe . Since the program was established in 2013 , many local urban agriculture businesses have opened both in greenhouse and indoor environments . Moreover , SFCC ’ s program has been deeply involved in the development of Santa Fe city policy as it relates to urban agriculture .
HOW IMPORTANT IS CEA PRODUCTION TO THE FOOD SUPPLY IN THE SANTA FE REGION ? It is very important . CEA crop production gives us the ability to work around environmental constraints in the procurement of fresh food . Living at approximately 7,000 feet of elevation creates a limited growing season in Santa Fe without CEA controls in place . Also , poor soils and lack of clean water obstruct food production in this region , as well as many places in the US . To this end , CEA ensures clean , safe food products that more consumers are demanding . On a larger scale , as climate change patterns impact regions negatively , less and less land and water will be available for food production in open systems . CEA will continue to be used to address and overcome many of the food security issues we are currently experiencing .
“ Students need more than
JUST A GREEN THUMB
to participate in this growing field . They also need to be technically inclined .”
grow cycle 89