The Sustainable Agriculture Certificate introduces basic principles and hands-on experience in the production and marketing of locally grown food. Experiential and classroom learning will focus on principles of environmental, economic, and social sustainability emphasized through practicum courses, field trips, guest lectures, and engagement with local farming and food communities. Students will be prepared for beginning occupations in sustainable market farming, ecological farm management, local food policy or advocacy organizations, produce management, school garden management, or related fields.

(Major Code 5290; CIP Code 01.0308)

Sustainable Agriculture Program web page

Program Outcomes

Johnson County Community College (JCCC) is committed to offering high-quality affordable programs that focus on developing knowledge and skills conducive to life-long learning. Both the General Education Student Learning Outcomes and Institutional Learning Outcomes convey JCCC's approach to programmatic outcomes. Additionally, students who successfully complete the Sustainable Agriculture Certificate from JCCC will be able to:

  • Create a small farm business plan.
  • Perform the tasks required of a market farmer throughout fall, winter, spring, and summer.
  • Understand the legal compliance issues and regulatory agencies involved in food safety and post-harvest handling of food products.
  • Establish and manage healthy soil ecosystems.
  • Identify and manage common pests using integrated pest management principles.
  • Increase the value of farm products using a variety of techniques.
  • Complete Better Process Control training which provides certification for producing and marketing low acid and acidified foods.
  • Understand the processes and regulations for marketing home kitchen-produced value-added products.
  • Use sustainable principles to guide decision-making and problem-solving in a variety of contexts.