By Henry C. Smith
Students from Buffalo's McKinley High School — home to one of the few high-school horticulture programs in New York state — visited Cornell May 19 to tour greenhouses, participate in demonstrations and meet researchers from the Center for Research on Programmable Plant Systems (CROPPS).
Exploring technologies that could allow crops to signal when they need water, fertilizer or protection from environmental stress, sophomores, juniors and seniors had the option to "tickle" a plant, watching fluorescent waves move through its leaves as it responded to the touch, among other learning opportunities.
McKinley High School’s horticulture program is unusual in New York state. Not only is it one of the few high schools in New York with its own greenhouse, but it is part of a unique statewide BOCES program focused on horticultural technical education. Students study plant science, greenhouse management and horticulture while gaining hands-on experience growing plants, creating floral arrangements and developing agricultural skills. The students visiting were all active members of their school’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) organization, a program with which Cornell has a long history.
The trip reflected a shared interest in plants and food systems, connecting students already working in a greenhouse to emerging technologies that may shape the future of agriculture.
Source : cornell.edu