The Agriculture and Life Sciences Institute advocates on issues relating to land use, offers marketing education and provides academic instruction for existing and future agribusiness professionals, such as farmers, winery operators and employees of companies involved in renewable energy resources, etc. as well as landowners to apply knowledge to their specific area of interest.

Land use advocacy encompasses participatory assistance (on-site, one-on-one education) to farmers, landowners, municipalities and authorities through interpretation of land use policy, comprehensive planning, rules, regulations, laws and ordinances.

Marketing education encompasses a broad spectrum of roles that are geared to helping land owners and farmers realize viability/sustainability of their land or business through effective use of the land or business. Specifically, the Agriculture and Life Sciences Institute:

• assists town, county and state municipalities in developing and implementing plans to help protect farmland and make operations viable.
• provides impetus and assistance for agricultural economic development, including value-added processes and marketing strategies within the Greater Rochester area, with emphasis on Monroe County.
• interprets, educates and assists landowners, farmers, and municipal and law enforcement officials on agricultural district laws and agricultural value assessments, such as property tax exemptions, of the New York State Department of Agriculture.
• assists first responders on farm security and agro-terrorism concerns, and partners with other MCC divisions, including the Homeland Security Management Institute and the Public Safety Training Facility to provide such assistance and training.

Skills training is offered in a variety of ways, including at workshops held at MCC facilities, on-location consultations, Webcast seminars, direct television conferences, and training sessions using other innovative technologies and approaches. Recent high school graduates and others interested in entering the agricultural field may be able to study in traditional degree and certificate programs, credit and noncredit courses.

In the future, the Institute plans to provide cross-disciplinary academic programming that will encourage people to pursue a career in an agriculturally-related field; and, it will support the effective transfer of technology and the adoption of innovative, environmentally-friendly practices – both with the desired result of generating a strong agricultural community and related industries, a viable climate for growth, and an enhanced quality of life.