UH-Manoa and UH-Maui College receive $1.9M to boost agricultural sciences

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded $1.9 million in federal funding to programs at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the University of Hawaii Maui College to boost Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced.

The funding will provide financial support for these institutions to carry out education, applied research, and community development programs within a broadly defined arena of food and agricultural sciences-related disciplines, according to a news release.

The funding will be used projects at UH Manoa, including GoFarm Hawaii and Hawaii-One-Ag. The UH Maui College program that will benefit from the funding is Ike Kupuna: Integrating Traditional Knowledge into Natural Resource Sciences, which combines modern and traditional methods in order to effectively manage Maui’s natural resources and increase participation amongst the Native Hawaiian community.

“This funding is an important investment in the future of Hawaii’s food and agriculture system, and the Native Hawaiian communities that have been stewards of the land for centuries,” said Senator Hirono. “UH’s programs, like GoFarm, play an important role in teaching and training the next generation of individuals who will care for the land and be responsible for strengthening Hawaii’s sustainability practices. I am glad that this funding will be used to support our local economy, develop our workforce, and engage members of the Native Hawaiian community as we work to protect the land and feed our communities for years to come.”

The University of Hawaii (UH) also received $1.5 million from NIFA in 2020. This funding enabled UH to promote educational equity for underrepresented students, expand education programs, and provide job training in the fields of food, agriculture, and natural resources.