This bill authorizes the New Jersey Department of Agriculture to designate an institution of higher education, or a specific school or academic unit within that institution, as The School of Agriculture for the Next Century. The aim of this designation is to enhance education, research, and workforce development in advanced agricultural technologies that are essential for the future competitiveness and sustainability of the state's agricultural sector. The Department is instructed to consider the institution's expertise in various emerging technologies, including unmanned aerial systems, artificial intelligence, light detection and ranging (LiDAR), smart irrigation, hydroponics, organic farming, genetic breeding techniques, CRISPR gene-editing technologies, agricultural robotics, and nanotechnology applications.

Furthermore, the bill allows the Department of Agriculture to designate one or more satellite schools for a three-year period to support the mission of the main school. These satellite schools can provide instruction, research, and workforce development in alignment with the focus of The School of Agriculture for the Next Century. The bill also encourages the establishment of academic pathways that enable coursework from multiple community colleges to be applied toward a degree program at the designated school, while ensuring that institutions retain authority over their degree requirements and academic standards.