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Classroom grow chambers draw bipartisan praise; supporters ask $2 million for statewide expansion
Summary
Representatives of FarmEd, local teachers and principals told the committee that AI-driven, indoor "grow chamber" classrooms boost STEM learning and career pipelines; FarmEd requested $2 million per year to place 200 units (100 rural, 100 urban) in Ohio schools.
FarmEd representatives and school officials described a classroom-based, AI-controlled indoor agriculture "grow chamber" program they say blends plant science, biotechnology and workforce training. They asked the committee for an appropriation to scale the program across Ohio schools.
Garren Angel of FarmEd and founder described the project-based STEM curriculum and the program's outcomes, including student certification opportunities and higher pass rates on biotechnology exams. Sunny Cummings, assistant principal at Miami Trace Elementary School, and fourth-grade teacher Suzanne Bodecker described hands-on lessons where thousands of elementary students learned plant growth, root systems and data-driven experimentation; students harvest and taste produce at the end of cycles.
FarmEd requested a $2 million per year appropriation to place about 200 classroom units (100 rural and 100 urban) across Ohio. Witnesses said the units align to state STEM standards and can create early exposure to agriculture, precision technology and potential career pathways. No committee vote occurred at the session; testimony was proponent-only.
