Samantha Graham originally wanted to become a dietician, something she saw as a good fit with her interests in nutrition and fresh, healthy food.
Instead, the Langley resident and D. W. Poppy grad went on to become one of the first students to complete Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s (KPU) new sustainable agriculture degree program.
“I have become particularly interested in the universal accessibility of fresh, nutritious food and the development of agricultural education programs in elementary and secondary schools,” Graham said.
Graham spent part of her degree studies working with elementary and secondary students in their schools’ gardens, teaching them about gardening and nature.
The four-year KPU program teaches students to critically analyze the many aspects that make up food systems, from urban gardens to government agencies, to agricultural education programs for school-aged children.
The Richmond-based program also looks at the science of agro-ecosystem design, innovative crop production methods, sustainable farm business management and the current economic, social and environmental challenges facing food systems in the 21st century.
As her next step in her edcation, Graham is going to Australia for a year on a work-holiday visa to learn about agricultural practices in a climate that differs from B.C., in particularly citrus fruit farming and drought adaptation.
“I’m going to use this opportunity to learn about the advantages of farming in a warmer climate, and also about the challenges associated with it,” Graham said.
Applications are still being accepted for the sustainable agriculture program’s September intake.
