The University of Hawaii at Manoa and the University of Hawaii Maui College are receiving $1.9 million in federal funding to support food and agricultural science programs.
The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, with the goal of increasing education, applied research, and community development programs related to food and agriculture at institutions that serve Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students.
“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 Sen. Mazie K. Hirono in a statement issued last week to announce the funding.
According to Hirono’s office, the funds will support two programs at UH Manoa: GoFarm Hawaii and Hawaii-One-Ag. GoFarm is a statewide training program focused on novice farmers, with the goal of bolstering Hawaii’s food security and local economy. Hawaii-One-Ag creates professional and technical educational programming geared for high school and college students, as well as agricultural workers.
At UH Maui College, the funding will go toward a program called Ike Kupuna: Integrating Traditional Knowledge into Natural Resource Sciences, which aims to effectively manage Maui’s natural resources.
In the statement, Hirono said the programs “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,” she said.
