New UHWO Major Benefits Hawaii’s Students, Ag Industry

The UH West Oahu Student Organic Campus Garden is open to students, faculty and staff for its biweekly get-togethers to prepare soil, build compost, plant fruit trees, install irrigation, sow seed, weed and harvest crops. Photo courtesy UH West Oahu.

To facilitate Hawaii’s changing landscape, UH West Oahu will offer a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in sustainable community food systems.

The new multidisciplinary major will focus on environmental quality, social equity, community food security and economic development in the state.

It also will offer higher education and training to support the local food and agricultural industry, according to the college.

Students participating in this program can begin careers in natural resource management, agriculture and food policy, sustainable inputs and value-added food businesses, social work, K-12 education and more.

“The food system of Hawaii is at a crossroads,” stated Albie Miles, professor of sustainable community food systems. “Importing an estimated 90 percent of its food, fertilizer, energy and seed, the Hawaiian Islands are uniquely vulnerable to statewide food insecurity.”

UH West Oahu’s new major is a partnership with Kamehameha School’s Aina-Based Education Department and Waianae’s MA‘O Organic Farms.

For more information on the applied science degree in sustainable community food systems, visit uhwo.hawaii.edu/admissions.