AgTEC WORKFORCE
Developing a skilled workforce pipeline for sustainable food production and manufacturing.
AgTEC Workforce program bridges the skills gap and prepares individuals for the future of agriculture technology, with an opportunity to obtain an AgSystems Certificate through seven local community colleges.
With curriculum informed by extensive farmworker surveys and industry collaboration, AgTEC’s innovative approach involves competency-based education, which assesses and rewards individuals based on their demonstrated competencies, avoiding redundant traditional coursework. This approach reflects a transformation in agricultural training, fostering collaboration between industry, colleges, and workers, aimed at providing responsive and practical solutions.
As part of our effort to create a comprehensive and inclusive AgTEC Program, 12,000 surveys were conducted across Madera, Fresno, Tulare, and Kings Counties to gather insights from California’s farmworkers. The data collected was foundational in informing the AgTEC approach, emphasis, direction for curriculum, and policy implications. Efforts were guided by labor market data, feedback from farmworker and industry surveys, and the identification of critical strands and teams necessary for the program’s successful implementation. Through this collaborative approach, the curriculum ensures that the workforce is trained based on practical skills, enabling them to tackle real-world scenarios effectively.
Deliverables & Outcomes
Industry-Aligned
Workforce Training
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Certificate in Applied Ag Systems offered across all 8 colleges
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STEM pathways for 2-yr degree program with onramp to 4-yr university
7 community colleges working together and with industry to design and deliver an industry-approved certificate program, 2-year degree program, and matriculation agreements with 4-year universities.
Competency-Based
Education (CBE)
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12,000 farmworkers surveyed
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16 worker-instructors hired and trained
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4,000 existing workers trained
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4,400 new workers trained
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Deliver system that can annually train 8,400 workers in Applied Ag Systems
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1,500 students in work-based training and learning
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Innovation Center launched
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8 industry partnership agreements
Participating colleges will use CBE to give credit for skills and experience workers already have and accelerate certificate/degree completion.
Connection of Talent to Industry
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8 community counselors trained and providing counseling for students
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4 permanent job placement programs across colleges
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Connect 1,000 people annually to jobs
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Improved access to talent pipelines for industry via Innovation Center career counselors
Assess the gaps between colleges and industry partners that bottleneck the talent pipeline and put supports in place to correct them.
Partners
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​Mexican/Salvadoran Consulates
