OLDS — The Olds College of Agriculture & Technology (OCAT) has set up an indoor agriculture certificate program which they say is the “first of its kind offered in Canada.”
In a news release issued Monday, the college says there’s “surging demand for skilled professionals in the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) sector,” which deals with sustainable and high-tech farming methods. That’s a gap this four-month program is designed to fill.
The new program offers a blend of on-campus and online courses, providing students with flexibility to learn in different environments.
The curriculum focuses on crop production techniques, state-of-the-art technologies, and business practices tailored to the CEA sector.
An inaugural cohort of 30 students will be accepted into the program in the fall of 2024
“We are very excited to offer a program that caters specifically to the controlled environment agriculture sector,” OCAT vice-president academic says in the news release.
“Our students will acquire essential skills in plant production techniques, modern technologies, and business practices that are crucial for success in this field.”
The indoor agriculture certificate program is partially funded by RBC as part of a $150,000 commitment they made to OCAT earlier this summer to promote and advance research and innovation in CEA.
