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Cal Poly Pomona

Sustainability



Hands cupping a miniature model of Earth

Help sustain the planet, whatever your major

The College of Agriculture is all about sustainability. Whatever your major is, you'll learn ways that your chosen field can contribute to the longevity of our planet, whether you're working with plants, animals, fabrics, foods, or businesses. Here's an example from each major. Click to learn more about each major.



Agricultural Science
(Ag Education)

This major gives you a chance to learn about every aspect of the "new" agriculture and sustainability. How to grow and produce foods, fibers and landscapes without harmful chemicals, using less of Wise owlprecious resources like water and energy. How to preserve wildlife and the ecosystems that support them. Healthier nutrition. Healthier foods. As an undergraduate you'll have a chance to teach what you learn in our community outreach programs.



Fashionable womanApparel Merchandising & Management

Today's discarded Coke bottle can be tomorrow's jacket. And vice versa. Learn the new techniques for recycling established synthetics, like polyester, to make this possible. Plus there's a new generation of bio fibers that's more sustainable than some natural fibers, requiring less energy expenditure at every stage from manufacturing to washing.


Kellogg Arabian horseAnimal Science

Our farmland of rolling pastures, with more animals and livestock than any other college, is a model of sustainability. It's an ecosystem in itself. You'll learn by being here as well as by doing. Learn animal nutrition to develop feeds that prevent or fight disease, and run your own livestock project. Study genetics as part of the Kellogg Arabian breeding program, and apply what you learn to conserving wildlife. Get involved in equine rescue and rehabilitation.

Vet tech examining dogAnimal Health Science

Roll up your sleeves and jump in to help sustain animal health as well as the relationship between humans and animals.  Learn preventive care through animal nutrition.  Assist vets at spay-and-neuter clinics to reduce the population of homeless animals. Take animals to visit patients in our unique Pet Therapy program, and see for yourself the effect of animals on well-being.


Hand-held device with image of EarthFood Marketing & Agribusiness Management

Environmental organizations need people who know about  business and can work the system. In addition to having the right knowledge of plant and animal ecosystems. This is the major that prepares you to make a difference by giving you a grounding in business practices as well as the food, animal and plant sciences. Not only do you know how to preserve an ecosystem, you can make and present the economic case for it.


MicroscopeFoods & Nutrition

Do you have a passion to improve health through the science of diet? This is your chance to help people live long and vigorous lives. Use nutrition to cure disease and childhood obesity. Look at individual genetics to determine what people should eat. Conduct research that makes babies healthier. One of our recent studies showed that folate deficiencies in pregnancy can cause birth defects like spinabifida.


Nutrition Major working with foodFood Science & Technology

Here's a chance to impact the sustainability of life on our planet through the chemistry and biology of food. Analyze the composition of an indigenous tuber from South America, help it get commercialized as a healthy treat here, and improve the lives of village farmers through a fair trade program. Detect contaminants and cancer-causing chemicals to protect the safety of our food supply.


Student in greenhouse with experimental seedlingsPlant Science

To sustain the earth, we need to do more with less. Less water, less space, fewer or no harmful chemicals. More fruitful trees, more plants that need less water, more efficient irrigation through computer-controlled systems that keep golf courses and gardens green. You'll learn the science of making this happen by doing and by showing. Explain sustainable agriculture at our Agriscapes facility, show lower-income neighborhoods how to plant community gardens, take produce to the inner city, and even make a landfill green.