Together, a vibrant, sustainable agricultural program is being built to enhance food security and community health.
Laughter fills the air as children explore agriculture in the greenhouse, engaging with controlled environment agriculture systems. For some, it’s their first time tasting lettuce and tomatoes despite their parents’ best efforts and they’re pleasantly surprised.
Through this program, youth are discovering the connections between innovation, tradition, and community.
“This is about more than growing food; it’s about feeding our future,” says a program leader. “Controlled environment agriculture allows us to take control of our health and sustainability in ways our ancestors never could have imagined, all while staying true to who we are.”
Agricultural and youth education integrates three key goals: agricultural production, cultural heritage, and nutrition. This program was co-designed with support from a national agricultural extension program. The multi-year partnership began when members of the community sought expertise to enhance their agricultural practices.
Controlled environment agriculture enables food production in small, non-traditional spaces, including shipping containers and urban centers. These systems embody the spirit of innovation, merging technology and sustainability to tackle critical global challenges like food security and climate resilience. A dedicated team collaborates closely with farm managers and agricultural experts to ensure the success of the initiative.
By incorporating freight farming, crops can be grown year-round, regardless of weather conditions. Shipping containers transform into efficient growing spaces equipped with climate control, LED lighting, and automated irrigation. These LED lights provide precise wavelengths to optimize plant growth, enhancing productivity.
Tomatoes, lettuce, herbs, and other crops thrive in hydroponic greenhouses, ensuring year-round access to fresh, nutritious food within the community. Beyond meeting local needs, these crops contribute to economic viability through sales to restaurants, schools, and other partners.
With 90% less water usage and crops growing up to four times faster, controlled environment agriculture is remarkably efficient. It reduces reliance on chemical pesticides, ensuring safer, higher-quality produce. By shifting to indoor farming, food security is strengthened, transportation costs lowered, and waste minimized improving both human health and environmental sustainability.
“This partnership is a model for how education can drive meaningful change benefiting communities while preserving cultural heritage,” says a program advocate. “It goes to the heart of training the future workforce, equipping youth with leadership and life skills for any career path, and using research to create knowledge that directly benefits the communities we serve.”
This initiative employs youth and adults from the community on the farm, while agricultural experts provide business and nutrition expertise. Additionally, weekly community food boxes support those in need.
“I think one of the special things about this program is that we’re engaged in every single aspect of the community,” says a university official. “We hold so much valuable, transformational knowledge embedded in our communities, and this initiative serves as the vehicle for ensuring that knowledge has an impact across the state and beyond. This work demonstrates the power of learning blending traditional knowledge with modern science to create sustainable solutions.”
Work on the farm continues to evolve as the agricultural and community components of the program expand. Innovation remains a driving force, balancing health and sustainability.
“Every decision we make reflects our responsibility to the land, our ancestors, and future generations,” a Tribal leader concludes. “Controlled environment agriculture is one way we uphold that responsibility combining technology with tradition to grow not just food, but opportunity.”
