FROM GREENHOUSE MANAGEMENT TO FULL SPECTRUM SUSTAINABILITY: GROWTH OF THE AGRICULTURE PROGRAM AT SANTA FE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.  

The past three years of the controlled environment agriculture program at Santa Fe Community College in Santa Fe, NM has focused on providing students with a broad series of skills related to Greenhouse Management, Hydroponics and Aquaponics. In addition, the program has encouraged the integration of associated technologies like Solar & Photovoltaic Energy, Biofuels, Adobe and Green Building.

We are now beginning a phase of expansion and growth where this program will look to integrate Recirculating Aquaculture and Soil Agriculture, in an effort to provide additional opportunities for students to gain comprehensive training in multiple facets of sustainable agriculture. The initial phase of this expansion will be the construction of a large scale teaching facility that will include a series of Recirculating Aquaculture, Aquaponic and Hydroponic production systems. Over the next three years we plan to add into the curriculum additional courses that are focused on these subjects as well as Soil Agriculture.