Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment

The Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment at UMass Amherst integrates research and outreach education in agriculture, food systems, energy, and the environment. The center is the contemporary standard bearer of the university’s land-grant origins. It provides linkages between the university and vibrant business, policy, and public interest sectors in the state, including farming, the horticultural “green industries,” environmental decision makers, energy professionals, and food system interests.

In the Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment, UMass Extension is the primary unit dedicated to outreach education. In addition to agriculture and commercial horticulture, it has programs in nutrition education for low-income communities and youth development. It also supports work in food science, geosciences, natural resources conservation, and clean energy development. These programs, often in partnerships with other organizations, offer research and educational opportunities, including workshops, conferences, distance education, training events, consultations, and applied research.

The Center is based in the College of Natural Sciences at UMass Amherst and also works with the School of Public Health and Health Sciences, the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and the College of Engineering.