Description of the problems and how the project-harvest (harnessing agriculture readiness through vocational education and skills training)-addresses themagriculture is undergoing rapid transformation…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Miami Dade College $630,000 on March 1, 2026, under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (CFDA 10.310) to deliver the PROJECT-HARVEST program, which integrates modern agricultural sciences into community college curricula.

The award funds curriculum development and hands-on learning experiences that expose students to agriculture as an interdisciplinary science combining biology, environmental science, engineering and robotics, data analytics and computer science, and precision agriculture technologies. Deliverables include updated and expanded agriculture courses, fieldwork and capstone projects, summer research opportunities, multi-level mentoring, guest lectures from USDA and industry partners, and learning activities in labs, technology centers, and field stations. The program aims to increase student awareness of modern agricultural careers and USDA workforce pathways, addressing the gap between contemporary agricultural labor market demands and the interdisciplinary knowledge and technical skills currently taught in high schools and community colleges.

Performance occurs in Miami, Florida. The period of performance runs from March 1, 2026, through February 28, 2029. Miami Dade College, a state-controlled Hispanic-Serving Institution and Minority Institution, is the recipient.

Description of the problems and how the project-harvest (harnessing agriculture readiness through vocational education and skills training)-addresses themagriculture is undergoing rapid transformation due to advances in technology, rising environmental pressures, and shifting workforce demands. Yet most students and the educational pathways serving them do not reflect this new reality. The core issue is that today's agricultural workforce requires interdisciplinary knowledge and technical skills that are not currently being taught or understood at the level needed in community colleges or high schools.problem 1: students do not understand that agriculture is an interdisciplinary science.modern agriculture is no longer limited to planting and harvesting. IT relies on knowledge drawn from: biology and ecology, engineering and robotics, computer science and data analytics, environmental science, economics and agribusiness. However, many students have never been exposed to agriculture as a field that integrates technology, sustainability, engineering, and environmental problem-solving.as a result, they often:underestimate the complexity of agricultural careers, assume agriculture has limited career pathways, and overlook the high-skilled, high-wage opportunities available.?1.harvest addresses IT by updating and expandingexisting agriculture courses to explicitly incorporate:biologyenvironmental scienceengineering and roboticsdata analytics and computer scienceiot and precision agriculture TECHNOLOGIES2.harvest will provide hands-on, interdisciplinary learning experiencessuch as:fieldworkcapstone projectssummer researchmulti-level mentoringguest lectures from USDA/industrylearning in labs, technology centers, and field stationsthese activities immerse students in how science, technology, and sustainability intersect.3. Harvest will achieve enhanced student awareness of modern agricultural careers:harvest aims to increase awareness of USDA pathways and modern workforce opportunities, directly correcting the misconception that agriculture is outdated or low-skill.problem 2: students do not understand how sustainability is connected to climate-smart technologies.agriculture today must adapt to:climate unpredictabilitysoil degradationwater scarcityshifting disease/pest patterns.yet students rarely learn how sustainability principles – like resource conservation, soil health, or productivity reduction – connect directly to these technologies. This disconnect prevents them from understanding why modern agriculture must be both technically advanced and environmentally responsible.1. Harvest addresses this via integration ofclimate-smart agriculture modules into updated courses:precision agriculture using smart farming & iotclimate-smart agriculture practicesagricultural roboticsenvironmental stewardship through aquaponics and HYDROPONICS2. Harvest emphasizes use of smart greenhouses, IOT-enabled learning infrastructure, and the use ofai center's role, in enabling students to design, build, and test climate-smart solutions using:IOT-based environmental monitoringsmart greenhouse systemsirrigation and nutrient optimization TOOLS3. Harvest aims to provide students with real-world sustainability application through aquaponics:students gain hands-on experience with an aquaponics system built on campus, modeling a closed-loop, resource-efficient agricultural system.problem 3: workforce demand is growing faster than workforce preparation.local, regional, and national employers urgently need workers who can:operate and interpret data from precision agriculture tools, manage climate-resilient production systems, participate in field research, integrate environmental stewardship into daily agricultural operations.but community colleges lack updated curriculum, hands-on training, and exposure to USDA-aligned workforce pathways.1. Harvest will develop workforce-aligned curriculum and credentials:harvest will update the agriculture associate of arts (AA) program to include industry-aligned competencies and industry-recognized credentials, ensuring graduates meet employer expectations.2. Harvest aims to provide direct workforce training in precision agriculture and climate-resilient systems with hands?on components (fieldwork, research, capstone projects, summer programs) to prepare students to:operate precision agriculture toolsinterpret sensor and drone dataimplement climate-resilient systemsapply sustainable management strategiesbasic methods and approachesharvest is designed to help students in miamidade county discover rewarding careers in agriculture – especially in areas that use modern technology to grow food more sustainably. Through this project, miami dade college (MDC) will update its agriculture associate of arts (AA) program and create new instructional modules that introduce students to precision agriculture, climate-smart farming, agricultural robotics, and sustainable growing systems like hydroponics and aquaponics. These updates will make agriculture education more engaging, practical, and aligned with real workforce needs.each year, the program will support 20 MDC undergraduate students and 10 local high school students, especially those from hispanic, low-income, or otherwise underrepresented backgrounds. Students will learn in modernized labs, technology centers, greenhouses, and field stations on MDC's north campus. They will also participate in summer research, hands-on fieldwork, mentorship, and career exploration activities.harvest is a collaborative effort. MDC will partner with archbold biological station, fairchild tropical botanical gardens, university of florida's tropical research and education center (trec), the USDA's subtropical horticulture research station (shrs), and local agricultural organizations. These partners will offer internships, field experiences, guest lectures, and exposure to real-world agricultural research.ultimately, the project aims to:increase a, wareness of USDA and agriculture-related careersboost enrollment, retention, and graduation in MDC's agriculture programsstrengthen the regional workforce by preparing students for high-demand, technology-focused agricultural jobssupport south florida's long-term economic and environmental resiliencein short, harvest helps students gain the skills needed to thrive in modern agriculture while strengthening the future of farming in south florida.