Micro-credentials for the advancing agri-tech sector: training and upskilling for our future food system

This research explores the types of content, teaching techniques, and delivery formats for educational programs that can effectively train urban agriculture, agri-tech, and food systems practitioners.

This research project uses interview and workshop methods to examine the types of content and teaching techniques that should be included in agri-food systems education programs to effectively train practitioners (current and emerging) to meet the modern-day challenges in sustainable food systems planning and development. The project directly addresses educational and professional gaps in local food systems practices. The objective of this research project is to produce knowledge that informs the development of four online, stackable micro-credentials in urban agriculture and agri-tech that are accessible to learners in rural, urban, and remote settings. The micro-credential programs (respectively) focus on: (1) vertical agriculture for local-regional food systems, (2) planning for urban agriculture, (3) agricultural data and local-regional food system development, and (4) the business of ag-tech and entrepreneurship.

The research project detailed seeks insights for informing the development of online, stackable micro-credentials in urban and vertical agriculture. The intention is to design these micro-credentials for broad accessibility, including for learners in remote or rural communities, and to offer flexible, credentialed training that supports learner and workforce transitions into food systems planning work. The aim is to develop micro-credentials that are particularly well-suited for farmers, food system practitioners, and underemployed workers seeking to build new skills or explore ag-tech entrepreneurship. The research experiments with digital tools for supporting online learners working/interested in the agri-food space, including systems map and interactive visualization tools.

This project is funded by SFU’s BC Centre for Agritech Innovation (BCCAI) and is led through a partnership between Royal Roads University (Dr. Robert Newell) and the Food and Agriculture Institute, University of the Fraser Valley (Dr. Stefania Pizzirani).