GRANTS, N.M. - Come summertime, the New Mexico State University-Grants campus is going to become the home of an “energy- and water-efficient” container farm. This is part of the Grants Branch effort to establish a study for agricultural research and innovation.
“The project will use a container-based farm to study the energy, water and sustainability impact of indoor farming, as well as explore opportunities to foster workforce and economic development in Cibola County, N.M.,” according to an article by NMSU Communications Specialist Carlos Lopez.
The project is a joint effort between NMSU-Grants and the NMSU Center of Excellence, Tri-State Generation and Transmission, and Electric Power Research Institute. The EPRI is providing the container, one of many that they have placed around the United States, while Tri-State is funding the project.
“Container farms enable food production in small, tightly controlled environments and provide a solution to food deserts – areas that grapple with limited access to affordable, nutritious foods. They also offer the potential to promote the integration of clean and energy efficient technologies for an historically energy intensive industry. The farm has the capability to produce lettuce, kale, arugula, herbs, flowers, carrots, radishes and other crops,” wrote Lopez.
The $150,000, 40-foot container will contain many innovative agricultural technologies conducive to indoor farming and is scheduled to arrive on the Grants campus in either June or July. This project will be advantageous for NMSU-Grants students who are involved with certain disciplines. They will get to work personally with the container.
“The project will provide many different learning opportunities embedded in specific course curriculum. Through coursework, students may find themselves involved in data collection and analysis, proposal development, feasibility studies, analyzing energy and water use, and many other topics related to the container,” said the NMSU Grants Vice President of Academic Affairs & Associate Campus Director, Dr. Marlene Chavez-Toivanen, who served as a NMSU-Grants Professor of Mathematics for about 21 years, before moving to her current position in July 2020.
The indoor farming proj ect will also be beneficial in many ways for the Cibola County community. The fresh produce grown in the container farm could at some point be distributed throughout the community. Students can take what they learn and apply it by sharing their knowledge, starting new businesses, and promoting energy- and water-efficient methods of food production throughout the community.
“The benefits include diversifying economic activity in Cibola County where coalfired power plants and associated mining have provided a financial mainstay for workers and the local community for decades,” stated Dr. Chavez-Toivanen.
Tri-State CEO Duane Highley echoed this and said, “Programs such as Farm in a Box bring new educational and economic opportunities to New Mexico communities, including those impacted by the energy transition.”
“NMSU-Grants will be home to the first vertical container garden within the NMSU system. The possibilities within the project will afford students the true active learning experiences sometimes not found on a rural community college campus. The partnership and support of the NMSU College of Agriculture, Consumer Science and Environmental Sciences allow for unique learning opportunities for students intending on pursuing degrees in those fields. Moreover, it is my hope that the through the container project relationships with local businesses, city and county governments, public schools, and other groups interested in sustainability are strengthened,” replied Dr. Chaves-Toivanen when asked why the Cibola County community should be excited about this project.
Upon the arrival of the container farm, a ribbon ceremony will be held, and an open house will be scheduled when produce has begun to grow. These events will be organized dependent upon the CDC guidelines set at that point in time, according to Dr. Chavez-Toivanen.
“NMSU Grants is excited to be a partner in piloting the indoor agricultural project,” affirmed Dr. Chavez-Toivanen.
Contact Dr. Marlene Chavez-Toivanen at marchave@nmsu.edu or 505- 287-6678 for more information.
For more information on the container farm and the Farm in a Box, visit https://newscenter.nmsu.edu/Articles/view/14597/nmsucenter-of-excellence-tri-stateepri-bring-container-farm-to-grants-campus.