Where Can I Get Controlled Environment Agriculture Career Training?

It seems that the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry grows each year. Whether it be COVID-19 putting a strain on the global supply chain, or an increased interest in locally grown foods, the CEA industry has experienced serious stimulation recently. Yet, as the booming CEA market continues to expand, companies are having a harder time than ever hiring top talent. Therefore, good controlled environment agriculture career training is more important than ever. 

The CEA industry is an extremely promising career field where certain people like Head Growers can quickly work their way into six-figure salaries. While there is a great demand for CEA professionals, many people lack the well-rounded skill-sets required for success in this challenging field. 

Luckily, several leading universities offer controlled environment agriculture career training to help fill the ever-widening gap in open positions. If you aren’t sure where to find proper CEA training, Mac & Fulton Talent Partners wanted to walk you through some popular options. 

Cornell University

Cornell University is a popular Ivy League school in New York state. Widely respected for its science, engineering, and veterinary programs, Cornell is a great choice for a controlled environment agriculture career training. While many Ivy League schools are simply too expensive and difficult to get into for the average person, Cornell is known for being more accessible than places like Harvard and Yale.

• Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Agriculture and Life Sciences focus area in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) 

The most standout CEA degree program at Cornell is a Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Agriculture and Life Sciences degree. This one-year degree program emphasizes “professional development and intellectual investigation in the areas of agriculture, life sciences, and global development.” 

Important courses in the Cornell CEA program include Biology and Management of Plant Diseases, Hydroponic Food Crop Production and Management, and Production and Marketing of Greenhouse Crops. 

The University of Arizona

The University of Arizona is located in Tucson, AZ, and is widely regarded as a “top-100 global university.” With an incredible 40,000 students, The University of Arizona is widely respected for its different science departments. In fact, the controlled environment agriculture career training in Arizona is one of the most popular CEA platforms on the planet. 

• Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Plant Systems: Controlled Environment Agriculture Emphasis 

The University of Arizona offers a Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Plant Systems with an emphasis on Controlled Environment Agriculture. According to their website, in Arizona “Students learn how to use environmentally, socially and economically sustainable growing systems in arid lands and urban settings…The discoveries made here offer farmers and leaders around the world solutions to growing more, improving yields and reducing pest problems, all while using less land, chemicals and water.” 

UC Davis

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is a famous school located just outside of Sacramento, CA. UC Davis is widely regarded as one of the world’s finest research institutions, especially concerning the field of agriculture. According to their website, “UC Davis is a tier-one research university and highly ranked in the U.S. and the world. Ranked 5th nationally for public universities, UC Davis is the world’s No. 2 in agriculture and forestry and the world’s No. 5 in environmental engineering.” 

• CEA coursework is a part of BA Degree and MA Degree programs from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences 

While UC Davis does not have a dedicated CEA degree program, they do offer a good deal of CEA coursework, as well as CEA facilities/research centers. In fact, UC Davis has partnered with some of the leading vertical farming companies in the world to study controlled environment agriculture production in hopes of creating “a more sustainable future.” 

CEA-focused courses at UC Davis include Genetics, Plant Pathology, Biotechnology, Agricultural Systems and the Environment. 

M&F Talent Recruiting Services

At Mac & Fulton Talent Partners, we thoroughly enjoy working with CEA professionals from leading universities. Even more, we realize how much of an asset controlled environment agriculture career training has become in today’s horticulture industry.

Please contact info@mandfconsultants.com to discuss CEA jobs or training in more detail.