Agroecology Operations Technician Coalition
Building a practical, industry-supported apprenticeship for resilient farms, food businesses, and regional food systems.
Meet here at 1:00 pm PT on these dates to join us for an overview and Q&A Session on these dates:
Thursday, September 3rd
Tuesday, September 8th
Thursday, September 10th
Organizations Supporting AOT
Agricultural, industry, education, conservation, and workforce organizations are helping demonstrate the need for a cross-trained agricultural occupation.
Endorsement reflects support for advancing the AOT occupational framework and strengthening agricultural workforce pathways; it does not necessarily indicate a commitment to operate an apprenticeship program.
What is AOT?
The Agroecology Operations Technician (AOT) is a proposed registered apprenticeship designed to prepare workers for cross-trained roles across agricultural production, processing, product quality, stewardship, and market-facing operations.
The program combines 2,000 hours of structured on-the-job learning with 144 hours of related instruction, creating a practical pathway that can be completed within one full growing season and calendar year.
Designed for those that Grow, Make and Sell products with a sense of place.
AOT connects the full agricultural value chain so apprentices understand not only how food and agricultural products are grown, but how they are processed, positioned, and brought to market.
Current Status
AOT is a proposed occupation currently undergoing industry validation for apprenticeability determination by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship.
Formal industry and stakeholder endorsements are now being collected to demonstrate support for recognition of AOT as an apprenticeable occupation.
Formal endorsement is the primary way to support AOT at this stage.
Why AOT?
For Employers
Develop versatile employees who can work across production, processing, stewardship, quality, and customer-facing operations while reducing dependence on narrowly trained or temporary labor.
For Education & Workforce Partners
Provide a common industry framework that connects classroom learning, work-based learning, pre-apprenticeship, and registered apprenticeship.
For Workers
Create a paid, structured pathway into agriculture that builds transferable skills, mentorship, and experience across multiple parts of the agricultural value chain.
For Farms, Food Systems & Communities
Build the workforce capacity needed to strengthen soil health, agricultural businesses, regional food production, and the long-term resilience of rural communities.
AOT is designed around the reality of diversified agriculture: the most valuable entry-level employees increasingly need to understand how production, processing, stewardship, and markets connect.
Coalition Resources
Review the proposed AOT occupational framework, supporting materials, and documents being used to demonstrate industry support for recognition of the occupation.
Learn About AOT
A concise introduction to the proposed occupation and employer value proposition.
Review the proposed on-the-job learning structure, competencies, and occupational requirements.
Review the questions being used to document industry support for determining AOT to be an apprenticeable occupation. (Editable Word template)
Support Recognition of AOT
Industry Letter of Support for Apprenticeability Determination PDF
Ready to Formally Endorse AOT? Organizations and industry professionals can formally document their support through the AOT Coalition Supporter Endorsement. (Microsoft Forms format - Takes about 6 minutes)
Need help completing the AOT endorsement review?
The suggested responses here provide optional starting points. You may copy, paste, modify, expand, or replace the language to reflect your professional or organizational experience. Your submitted responses should reflect your own judgment regarding the proposed occupation.
Coalition members may receive access to additional working documents, implementation resources, meeting materials, and partner tools through the AOT Coalition workspace.
Follow the AOT Coalition:
Subscribe to The Regionicity Report
Subscribe for periodic updates on the occupational framework, coalition activity, employer participation, related instruction, and progress toward registered apprenticeship recognition.
The Regionicity Report is a monthly publication covering Destination Agriculture workforce development, AOT progress, standout agroecological products, Delicious Destinations, and other stories connecting agriculture, place, people, and regional economies.