Two new land-based qualifications to grow the future at Massey

Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University is offering two new land-based qualifications to students coming to study at their Manawatū campus from 2025: the new Bachelor of Earth and Environmental Science degree, and the new Horticulture Management specialisation within the Bachelor of Agribusiness.

The pressing challenges facing planet Earth today are well known. The world must achieve a balance between economic prosperity and environmental stewardship, guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that set out to solve global issues like climate change. Sustainable food production to support a growing global population is one of these challenges. Massey’s new qualifications support students to become evidence-based scientists to help create a sustainable world.

The new Bachelor of Earth and Environmental Science will provide students with a robust background in the processes that shape the Earth, while also considering the pivotal role that humans play in altering Earth systems, through critical examination of contemporary environmental issues. The new degree has two specialisations - Land and Water Science and Geoscience. Both areas are in demand and desirable for employees in the sector.

The new Horticultural Management specialisation within the Bachelor of Agribusiness has been developed from our horticultural science and agribusiness expertise and is an industry-focused qualification. There is an unmet demand for graduates with a knowledge of business allied with horticulture, and this part of the Aotearoa New Zealand economy is set to grow. Students will acquire a broad knowledge of plant-based food value chains to fill positions across production, processing, logistics and governance, and particularly in management roles. Many students wanting to study agribusiness have an interest in horticulture; now we are combining these two in-demand areas.

College of Sciences Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Ray Geor says studying science is the best way to tackle these urgent global issues.

Associate Professor James Millner will support the new programmes within the School of Agriculture and Environment.

“The new specialisation within the Bachelor of Agribusiness will extend our capability to include horticulture, linking with our expertise in horticultural and plant science. We made this change because we recognise the growth potential of that industry for the future and are aiming to supply the employees that will be in demand over the coming years. The horticulture industry has been calling for more students to enter this pathway, creating schemes within secondary schools to stimulate interest. As the tertiary education provider on this topic, we are responding to the current labour shortage. The support from the primary production sector that we have received, particularly for the Horticultural Management specialisation, means that our graduates are in demand now more than ever before.”