SUNY Fulton-Montgomery Community College announced on Tuesday the opening of a facility on campus designed to meet the growing demand for education and training in horticulture and cannabis cultivation.
The innovative Hydroponics Lab was paid for by a SUNY Cannabis Hub grant. The grant allowed FMCC, as well as SUNY Schenectady, Columbia-Greene Community College and SUNY Adirondack Community College, to expand and create new programs focused on the emerging cannabis industry. While FMCC already had programs, it didn't have space. The grant allowed the college to purchase equipment, as well as renovate the space the lab now occupies in O'Connell Hall.
Currently, FMCC offers several Individual Studies certificates for cannabis cultivation, including cannabis cultivation technician, cannabis dispensary manager, and quality assurance technician certificate.
The new lab at FMCC has 10 plant towers built by instructors and students, each growing various kinds of leafy greens. While students cannot grow cannabis on campus, they learn practical skills such as how similar plants grow in the towers.
“They've got to know how to read pH, [and] how to read to test the amount of nutrients that are going into [the plants],” said FMCC hydroponics instructor Adam Cancio. “Something like a tomato is very similar in that you're trying to produce a flower. In the cannabis industry, you're [also] trying to produce a flower, so it's transferable.”
Students also gain practical experience through internships with cannabis dispensaries in the region that have partnered with the college. After taking the courses and achieving their hours, students will be awarded their certificate and can officially join the workforce.
“It's a very employment focused program,” Christie Davis, Director of External Partnerships at FMCC, said. “You can do it in two semesters, and you could be at work. So if you're not somebody who doesn't want to spend maybe two years on an associate degree, this is a really good program to get employed, quickly.”
Attendees of an open house at the new lab Tuesday were able to explore the space, learn about career opportunities in horticulture and cannabis cultivation, and connect with FMCC instructors and staff who were passionate about guiding students into different fields.
The U.S. cannabis market was estimated at $33.60 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow 12.10% from 2024 to 2030, according to a report by Grand View Research, an India & U.S. based market research and consulting company.
“The new Hydroponics Lab at SUNY FMCC is a testament to innovation and sustainability, providing our students with hands-on opportunities to explore cutting-edge agricultural practices and cultivate a greener future,” said FMCC President Greg Truckenmiller.
Article written by Eden Stratton, The Leader-Herald.
