URI launching new sustainable agriculture, food systems major

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – The University of Rhode Island is launching a new, interdisciplinary undergraduate major in sustainable agriculture and food systems this fall, with an emphasis on coastal foods.
The new bachelor of science degree will enable students to study the food chain from farm to plate to waste and back, emphasizing sustainability, human health and resilience from economic, environmental and societal viewpoints. The program could lead to careers in food production, food security, food safety and food marketing and distribution, said Marta Gomez-Chiarri, coordinator for the new major. She is also chairperson of the URI Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Science.
“What’s unique about our program compared to others around the country is that ours will have a coastal focus, integrating sustainable seafood with all the other foods that other programs emphasize,” said Gomez-Chiarri.
Current URI students have already expressed interest in switching into the new major, and others nearing completion of their degrees are working toward earning a minor in the discipline, she said.
“There has already been demand from students studying plant sciences and animal sciences who want to learn more about the whole chain of sustainable agriculture,” she said. “We know there is a great deal of interest from students in the social sciences who want to know more about the food production side, as well as students studying the production side who want to understand more about the social and health aspects.”
Gennifer Keller, a sophomore from Narragansett studying environmental science and natural resource economics, said the new major “is the future.”
“Life revolves around food, and if we cannot feed our growing population, more people will starve,” Keller said. “Agriculture, human health, negative effects on the environment, global warming, increasing population, hunger and poverty are all tied together. The new major combines all those topics into one.”
For information about the new program, contact Gomez-Chiarri at 401-874-2917 or gomezchi@uri.edu.

No posts to display