Sustainable Agriculture Technology

The Sustainable Agriculture Technology degree is designed to prepare students for a career in the emerging agriculture technology industry. The course of study will cover all aspects of technology and horticultural study including hydroponics, aquaponics, organic substrate production, GIS/GPS, water and energy conservation, and computing and connecting technology tools and data streams on farm. Students will finish this degree program prepared for careers as precision agriculture technicians, greenhouse managers, hydroponic growers, farmers, ranch or operations managers, first line supervisors for agriculture and horticulture industries, biological technicians, among others. This program is designed for those wishing to go directly into employment in the agriculture and horticulture industries; therefore, students wishing to transfer courses should consult a counselor or consider the AS-T degree in Agriculture Plant Science. Program Learning Outcomes: 1. Strong understanding of the plant science fundamentals of soil, plant, and water relationships to produce plants in a variety of high tech production systems. (Global Awareness, Communication) 2. Understanding of how to use technology tools to increase sustainability and production. (Personal Responsibility and Professional Development, Communication) 3. Ability to use, manage, and manipulate data and data streams from technology tools to inform management decisions. (Critical Thinking and Information Competency, Communication)

Table of Enrollment attached. As a new program, the college estimates degree enrollment will grow to 30 students in its program courses within the first two years. The college anticipates the new degree will achieve 5 completers by its 2nd year and grow this completion rate through its fifth year of operation to 15 completers per year (if an additional instructor can be added to the program). As the course of study is interdisciplinary, all required classes are required by at least one other degree and the above numbers are not predictive as to estimate enrollment within the Sustainable Agriculture Technology degree. Cross-enrollment was analyzed by Cabrillo’s Planning and Research Office and it was shown that 22 students in the last two years had enrollment in any Horticulture class and in any Computer Information Systems or Computer Science class. This interdisciplinary enrollment data may be the best indicator of potential enrollment in this interdisciplinary Sustainable Agriculture Technology program. The net annual labor demand projection is estimated at a minimum of 208 and a maximum of 1,363 opening annually, with 15 completers being supplied by Hartnell College. With 15 projected completers per year, we will be able to easily place students into high demand jobs while contributing to local demands for trained labor.

The primary goal of this program is: To give students a core horticulture and plant science curriculum and develop their skills in a broad range of agriculture technology topics including: data management, GIS mapping, networking technology tools on farm, producing plants in nutrient film technique, deep raft, ebb and flood, and substrate hydroponic production systems, electrical and hydraulic engineering basics, soil moisture sensing, and energy and water conservation. Upon completion, students will be prepared for emerging careers at the nexus of agriculture, technology, and sustainable food production including precision agriculture technicians, greenhouse managers, hydroponic growers, farmers, ranch or operations managers, field technicians and many more. The primary objectives of this program are: 1. To train horticulturalists skilled in the plant production in multiple high tech growing systems. 2. To provide each student with the fundamental knowledge of plant biology, plant production, agriculture research, technology tools, and computer literacy to make high tech agriculture more sustainable. 
 3. To create opportunities for students to solve complex production, technology, sustainability, and research problems, resulting in more diversely trained horticulturists who are prepared to solve tomorrow’s agriculture business problems.

General Education 21 units Core Courses HORT 1A Basic Horticulture 4 units HORT 1B Basic Horticulture: Crop Production 4 units HORT 2 Soil Science and Management 4 units HORT 52 Greenhouse Design and Operation 3 units HORT 58 Irrigation Systems Design and Management 3 units HORT 71 Organic Food Production 4 units HORT 72 Organic Food Production 2 1 unit HORT 125 Hydroponic and Substrate Production 3 units 26 units AND PATH 1 – Breadth of Ag Tech ENGR 3 How Things Work 3 units GEOG 17 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Techniques 3 units CIS 71 Information & Communication Technology Essentials 4 units CABT 41 Excel 3 units 13 unit OR PATH 2 – Computing within Ag Tech CS1L Technology Tools 2 units CIS 15 Cloud Programming with Python 4 units CIS 75 Fundamentals of Computer Security 3 units CIS 81 Computer Network Fundamentals 4 units 13 units TOTAL 60

Please see attachment.

There are no similar programs in the college service area. Hartnell’s Agricultural Business and Technology Institute administration have been consulted with and it has been determined that none of their programs offer a similar A.S. degree in sustainable agriculture technology.