Mount Wachusett Community College’s Regenerative Agriculture courses provide students with the theoretical and practical skills to launch a career in local food movements and agriculture. This certificate program sets a solid foundation for students looking to forge the future of food production.
Students learn about a standard for organic agriculture that exceeds typical sustainable farming. Regenerative agriculture mirrors the cycles of natural systems, relies on nutrient pathways and builds and preserves soils and their fertility. It advocates for building more resilient farms and farmers despite the volatile agricultural landscape.
These classes will teach students to build food systems that ensure local communities’ well-being and nourishment. It encourages plant and animal growth without using chemicals, which saves farmers money and reduces human health risks caused by pesticides and herbicides.
Students explore the fundamental interactions between living and non-living systems, including nutrient cycling, efficient water use, effective solar capture and synergy among plants and animals in their habitats. The program also teaches students to analyze complex food systems’ cultural, ecological and economic dimensions.
The Regenerative Agriculture certificate comprises labs and lectures conducted in our numerous outdoor instructional spaces, including undeveloped plant communities and forested areas, pond ecosystems and a life studies center consisting of a greenhouse and potting area. These diverse learning facilities give students hands-on learning opportunities that train them to be farmers and farm stewards that change our future.
The Scope of Our Certificate in Regenerative Agriculture
MCCW has tailored our Regenerative Agriculture certification to equip students with baseline knowledge of regenerative organic agriculture. It teaches students numerous methods to restore degraded agricultural soils by regenerating the structure, minerals, water and nutrient retention capacity and microbial diversity to ensure they provide healthy food for local communities.
The following topics teach regenerative agriculture methods.
- Integrated pest management: Use of physical, biological, chemical and cultural methods to prevent pests and minimize toxic pesticide use.
- Soil science: Manage soil biology, build soil’s organic matter and improve its water- and mineral-holding capacity.
- Plant pathology: Solve crop problems and improve their chances of survival using organic methods, such as crop rotation and cover cropping.
- Horticulture: Grow, improve and commercialize nutrient-dense food.
- Botany: Understand the science of plants, including their structure, genetics, properties, classifications and economic importance.
Career Opportunities in Regenerative Agriculture
Earning this certification will prepare you for numerous opportunities in agribusiness and food companies. For starters, you can be a farmer or farm steward with a good understanding of environmental justice and sustainable agriculture. You can also be a consultant or educator, helping others develop organic food production systems that promote the well-being of local communities.
Here are some other careers you can explore after graduating from this program.
- Pesticide handler, sprayer or applicator
- Regenerative agronomists and consultants
- Forestry worker
- Animal scientist
- Farm labor contractor
- Agricultural scientist or inspector
Sign up for MWCC’s Regenerative Agriculture Course
Our Regenerative Agriculture certificate courses are invaluable for anyone looking to launch a successful agribusiness or organic farming career. They prove useful for students with a multidisciplinary, agricultural, business or science education background by providing them with a solid foundation into the exciting field or regenerative agriculture.
The regenerative agriculture certificate also facilitates a seamless transition into related associate or bachelor’s degree programs with transferrable credits.
To get started, take five minutes to apply for free online or visit our Gardner and Leominster campuses for a detailed general information session and campus tour. You can also request more info on the Regenerative Agriculture certificate or our Environmental Conservation and Regenerative Agriculture degree.