By Blake Jackson
New York State, particularly Long Island, is seeing increased demand for education and workforce pathways that support local food systems, sustainability and agricultural technology. Since opening in 2015, the FoodLab at Stony Brook Southampton, part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, has worked to meet that need through applied learning and community collaboration.
On January 22, the FoodLab hosted a SUNY AgriTech listening session at the Southampton campus. The event brought together SUNY leadership, faculty, students and regional business representatives to gather input from the East End of Long Island.
The discussion guides future plans to position the FoodLab as a SUNY AgriTech outpost focused on workforce development, hands-on education and food-system innovation.
“As a SUNY flagship university, Stony Brook plays a central role in driving innovation that strengthens our workforce and supports the communities we serve,” said Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith.
“The FoodLab at Stony Brook Southampton exemplifies the power of collaboration, bringing together SUNY, industry and local partners to advance sustainable agriculture, applied learning and economic opportunity. Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient future for Long Island and for the great state of New York.”
Local leaders emphasized the unique connection between agriculture and the East End’s environment and economy. “On the East End of Long Island, food is deeply connected to our land, our water, our economy and our way of life,” said Wendy Pearson, vice president for strategic initiatives and executive director of Stony Brook Southampton.
SUNY Vice Chancellor Chris White and Chief Sustainability Officer Carter Strickland led the roundtable sessions, highlighting the importance of aligning agricultural education and technology across the SUNY system.
“‘No farms, no food’ has long captured the conversation case for agriculture,” Strickland said. “But given today’s economic pressures, a modern corollary might be ‘no technology, no farms.’”
The FoodLab has grown from early community discussions into a hub for workshops, research and collaboration. Located on the Southampton campus, it includes gardens, greenhouses and plans for a new community garden.
Long Island agriculture continues to expand, generating nearly $373 million in farm sales in 2022. “No one thinks of Long Island as a major producer, but the growth of agriculture in this region is remarkable,” said FoodLab Executive Director Judiann Carmack-Fayyaz.
Photo Credit: state-university-of-new-york
Categories: New York, Education