Vertical Agriculture in Controlled Environments - Micro-credential Series
This Micro-credential Series prepares learners for careers in controlled environment agriculture, with a focus on essential areas such as vertical farming techniques, sustainability, and management practices. Through a blend of comprehensive knowledge and hands-on experience, participants gain the expertise needed to succeed in Ontario’s rapidly evolving agricultural sector.
This specialized program connects learners to Ontario’s indoor farming community.
Program Structure
The program structure includes 10 weeks of online, synchronous classes, followed by a 4-week work-integrated learning (WIL) placement. During the initial 10 weeks, learners will participate in at least one required site visit to a partner farm, with opportunities for additional visits to experience a range of farming operations. The hands-on WIL component provides part-time experience, allowing learners to work 1-3 days per week at selected partner farms.
Farm Partners:
Program Modules and Learning Outcomes
Micro-Credential 1: Vertical Agriculture Processes and Growth Strategies
Topics: Process Optimization, Vertical Farming, Pest and Disease Management, Food Sovereignty.
Learning Outcomes:
- Optimize agricultural processes for efficiency and yield.
- Apply best practices in planting, nurturing, and harvesting.
- Identify and manage pests in vertical farming.
- Assess food sovereignty impacts on local communities.
Micro-Credential 2: Design and Planning in Vertical Farming
Topics: Technologies, Farm Design, Transitioning from Outdoor to Vertical Farming.
Learning Outcomes:
- Plan vertical farms focusing on site selection, infrastructure, layout, and equipment.
- Address the mental and logistical shift from traditional to vertical farming.
Micro-Credential 3: Sustainability and Compliance in Vertical Agriculture
Topics: Sustainable Food Production, Health Canada Compliance.
Learning Outcomes:
- Explain sustainable practices that minimize environmental impact.
- Understand regulatory standards critical to vertical farm operations.
Micro-Credential 4: Vertical Farming Management and Operations
Topics: Production Management, Leadership Development.
Learning Outcomes:
- Evaluate farm production schedules and apply leadership strategies for improved teamwork and productivity.
Micro-Credential 5: Marketing and Business Development
Topics: Marketing Strategies, Profitability Analysis.
Learning Outcomes:
- Develop a marketing strategy aimed at enhancing profitability for vertical farms.
Week |
Topic |
Details |
| 1 | Food Sovereignty | Principles and practices that support local food systems and community resilience. |
| 2 | Vertical Farming: Building and Planning | Best practices for planting, nurturing, and harvesting crops in controlled environments. |
| 3 | Vertical Farming: Growing and Harvesting | Best practices for planting, nurturing, and harvesting crops in controlled environments. |
| 4 | Troubleshooting Pests and Diseases | Identifying, preventing, and managing common pests and diseases in vertical farming setups. |
| 5 | Processes and Optimization | Techniques for optimizing agricultural processes to improve efficiency and yield. |
| 6 | Technologies Used in Vertical Farming | Overview of essential equipment and software tools used to run vertical farms, including automation systems, climate control technologies, hydroponic systems, and data management software. |
| 7 | Transition from Outdoor to Vertical Farming | Supporting the mental and emotional adjustment from traditional farming to vertical farming environments. |
| 8 | Sustainable Food Production | Approaches to sustainable farming practices that reduce environmental impact and enhance food security. |
| 9 | Health Canada Standards and Requirements | Understanding regulatory standards and compliance requirements for vertical farming operations. |
| 10 | Production Management | Strategies for managing production schedules, inventory, and workflow in vertical farming operations. |
| 11 | Marketing and Promotion | Effective strategies for marketing and promoting vertically farmed products. |
| 12 | Profitability | Financial planning and analysis to ensure the economic viability of vertical farming operations. |
| 13 | Leadership Development | Principles and practices that promote critical thinking, risk assessment and mitigation, teamwork, and overall productivity. |
Connect With Us
Interested in bringing our program to your area or connecting with skilled graduates to fulfill staffing needs? Reach out to learn more about expanding our program locally or for information on hiring trained professionals ready to make a difference.
Eve Montgomery
Acting Associate Dean, Continuous Professional Learning
Faculty of Social and Community Services
eve.montgomery@humber.ca
Dave Smiderle
Associate Dean
Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology
dave.smiderle@humber.ca
Vertical Farming- Palette Grant 2024 Cohort |
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Week Topics |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
Sunday |
|
| 1 | Food Sovereignty | 18-Nov-24 | 19-Nov-24 | 20-Nov-24 WEEKLY EVENING LECTURE 1: Stefan & Lukas |
21-Nov-24 | 22-Nov-24 | 23-Nov-24 | 24-Nov-24 |
| 2 | Vertical Farming: Building and Planning | 25-Nov-24 | 26-Nov-24 | 27-Nov-24 WEEKLY EVENING LECTURE 2: Stefan & Lukas |
28-Nov-24 | 29-Nov-24 SITE VISIT: EtobiGrow (P.M.) |
30-Nov-24 Site Visit? |
1-Dec-24 |
| 3 | Vertical Farming: Growing and Harvesting Troubleshooting Pests and Diseases |
2-Dec-24 | 3-Dec-24 | 4-Dec-24 WEEKLY EVENING LECTURE 3: Stefan & Lukas |
5-Dec-24 | 6-Dec-24 Site Visit? |
7-Dec-24 Site Visit? |
8-Dec-24 |
| 4 | Processes and Optimization Technologies Used in Vertical Farming |
9-Dec-24 | 10-Dec-24 | 11-Dec-24 WEEKLY EVENING LECTURE 4: Stefan & Lukas |
12-Dec-24 | 13-Dec-24 SITE VISIT: EtobiGrow (P.M.) |
14-Dec-24 Site Visit? |
15-Dec-24 |
| 16-Dec-24 | 17-Dec-24 | 18-Dec-24 | 19-Dec-24 | 20-Dec-24 | 21-Dec-24 | 22-Dec-24 | ||
| Winter Break | ||||||||
| 23-Dec-24 | 24-Dec-24 | 25-Dec-24 | 26-Dec-24 | 27-Dec-24 | 28-Dec-24 | 29-Dec-24 | ||
| Winter Break | ||||||||
| 5 | 30-Dec-24 | 31-Dec-24 | 1-Jan-25 | 2-Jan-25 | 3-Jan-25 | 4-Jan-25 | 5-Jan-25 | |
| SELF-PACED COMPONENT | ||||||||
| 6 | Transition from Outdoor to Vertical Farming | 6-Jan-25 | 7-Jan-25 | 8-Jan-25 WEEKLY EVENING LECTURE 5: Stefan & Lukas |
9-Jan-25 | 10-Jan-25 SITE VISIT: EtobiGrow (P.M.) |
11-Jan-25 Site Visit? |
12-Jan-25 |
| 7 | Sustainable Food Production | 13-Jan-25 | 14-Jan-25 | 15-Jan-25 WEEKLY EVENING LECTURE 6: Stefan & Lukas |
16-Jan-25 | 17-Jan-25 Site Visit? |
18-Jan-25 Site Visit? |
19-Jan-25 |
| 8 | Health Canada Standards and Requirements | 20-Jan-25 | 21-Jan-25 | 22-Jan-25 WEEKLY EVENING LECTURE 7: Stefan & Lukas |
23-Jan-25 | 24-Jan-25 Site Visit? |
25-Jan-25 Site Visit? |
26-Jan-25 |
| 9 | Production Management | 27-Jan-25 | 28-Jan-25 | 29-Jan-25 WEEKLY EVENING LECTURE 8: Stefan & Lukas |
30-Jan-25 | 31-Jan-25 SITE VISIT: EtobiGrow (P.M.) |
1-Feb-25 Site Visit? |
2-Feb-25 |
| 10 | Marketing and Promotion Profitability |
3-Feb-25 | 4-Feb-25 | 5-Feb-25 WEEKLY EVENING LECTURE 9: Stefan & Lukas |
6-Feb-25 | 7-Feb-25 SITE VISIT: EtobiGrow (P.M.) |
8-Feb-25 Site Visit? |
9-Feb-25 |
| 11 | Leadership Development | 10-Feb-25 | 11-Feb-25 | 12-Feb-25 WEEKLY EVENING LECTURE 10: Stefan & Lukas |
13-Feb-25 | 14-Feb-25 SITE VISIT: EtobiGrow (P.M.) |
15-Feb-25 Site Visit? |
16-Feb-25 |
| 12 | 17-Feb-25 | 18-Feb-25 | 19-Feb-25 | 20-Feb-25 | 21-Feb-25 | 22-Feb-25 | 23-Feb-25 | |
| WORK INTEGRATED LEARNING: On-Site Volunteering and Field Experience: EtobiGrow, 5N2, The Six Farms (or Waterwheel?) | ||||||||
| 13 | 24-Feb-25 | 25-Feb-25 | 26-Feb-25 | 27-Feb-25 | 28-Feb-25 | 1-Mar-25 | 2-Mar-25 | |
| WORK INTEGRATED LEARNING: On-Site Volunteering and Field Experience: EtobiGrow, 5N2, The Six Farms (or Waterwheel?) | ||||||||
| 14 | 3-Mar-25 | 4-Mar-25 | 5-Mar-25 | 6-Mar-25 | 7-Mar-25 | 8-Mar-25 | 9-Mar-25 | |
| WORK INTEGRATED LEARNING: On-Site Volunteering and Field Experience: EtobiGrow, 5N2, The Six Farms (or Waterwheel?) | ||||||||
| 15 | 10-Mar-25 | 11-Mar-25 | 12-Mar-25 | 13-Mar-25 | 14-Mar-25 | 15-Mar-25 | 16-Mar-25 | |
| WORK INTEGRATED LEARNING: On-Site Volunteering and Field Experience: EtobiGrow, 5N2, The Six Farms (or Waterwheel?) | ||||||||
| 16 | 17-Mar-25 | 18-Mar-25 | 19-Mar-25 | 20-Mar-25 | 21-Mar-25 | 22-Mar-25 | 23-Mar-25 | |
| CAPSTONE PROJECT PRESENTATIONS | ||||||||