Sustainable Agriculture: Major in an Eco-friendly Future

Monday, January 30, 2023

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Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems major (B.S.)

As someone who cares about sustainability, you may be keen on discovering ways to contribute to a long-lasting ecosystem while catering to society's food and fiber necessities. Pursuing a Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems undergraduate major will expose you to a multidisciplinary education in modern agricultural practices and food systems. You'll gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge research, develop a solid foundation in the biological sciences, and actively participate in sustainable agriculture research and education to create a better future for generations to come.

Why Study Agriculture and Food Sustainability?

Studying agriculture and food sustainability is essential because it focuses on the biological, ecological, economic, and social components of agroecosystems. Embarking on this interdisciplinary journey allows you to develop a systems thinking approach, providing you with a comprehensive understanding of modern agricultural and food systems, as well as a solid foundation in the biological sciences.

Agriculture and food sustainability address critical environmental and socioeconomic issues, ensuring that current needs do not compromise the health and safety of future generations. For instance, sustainable agriculture strives to:

Protect natural resources like soil, water, and air by reducing pollution from chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Maintain the biodiversity of wild habitats and preserving the genetic diversity of crops and animals.
Promote food production systems that are resilient to environmental changes, such as droughts, floods, and pests.

Furthermore, sustainable agriculture and food systems play a crucial role in addressing climate change. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving soil health, sequestering carbon, addressing issues like water conservation, urban agriculture, and crop diversity, you contribute to the global effort against climate change.

From a social perspective, sustainable agriculture and food systems seek to ensure basic human needs are met while operating within the limits of natural resources. This approach fosters equity, inclusive economic development, and food security.

In summary, studying agriculture and food sustainability provides you with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to help balance economic, social, and environmental factors in food production. Engaging in this field paves the way for enduring benefits to farmers, consumers, and the environment, ensuring that agriculture can continue in the long term.

Reasons to Study Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems at UNH

Studying sustainable agriculture and food systems at UNH offers you a plethora of career opportunities in this diverse field. By customizing your emphasis area, such as agroecology, horticulture, animal agriculture, agriculture and food systems policy, or entrepreneurship, you can pave your way in the industry.

At UNH, you can gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge research facilities, including two working dairy farms, horticulture and agronomy farms, greenhouses, and the brewing science laboratory. These experiences can lead you to various career paths, such as:

Agricultural business management and entrepreneurship: Overseeing farm operations or handling marketing, sales, and finance in agriculture.
Agricultural research: Conducting experiments to improve crop yields, develop new plant varieties, and find new ways to combat pests and disease while preserving biodiversity and wildlife habitats.
Agricultural services and support: Consulting with landowners on environmental regulations and planning land conservation efforts.
Education and outreach: Teaching in high schools or post-secondary institutions, or engaging in public outreach with museums and non-profits.
Grant writing and policymaking: Working for government agencies, like the USDA, to develop agriculture and food safety policies and rural development programs.
Production of food and fiber: Producing and selling food or other goods to the local community or worldwide market.

A degree in sustainable agriculture and food systems from UNH not only opens up various career paths but also contributes to the global goals of food sustainability, economic viability, and improving the quality of life for farmers, ranchers, and developing countries.