CAFES offers new academic opportunities

The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) at UW-River Falls has recently added three new programs to its academic array: Horticulture Fruit and Vegetable Sustainable Systems option; Food Processing Technology minor; and Animal Science Companion Animal emphasis.

The Horticulture Fruit and Vegetable Sustainable Systems option integrates specific non-horticulture support courses in a systems approach. The curriculum includes fruit and vegetable production, soil and plant nutrition, plant pathology, entomology, sustainable production models, environmental issues, market distribution and market forces, human resource management and food safety. A business emphasis already exists for students in this option that might want a stronger business component.

Students in animal science with a meat animal emphasis traditionally take coursework that gives them exposure to the basic processes and practices of converting livestock into a retail product, and the associated issues of quality and product safety. The new minor in Food Processing Technology will give students in other areas (dairy science, crops and soils, horticulture) the same opportunity to gain theoretical knowledge and practical experience in applicable food product processing.

The new Animal Science emphasis in Companion Animals complements the existing Animal Science emphases in Meat Animal and Equine and responds to the growing interest in this branch of animal science. The new emphasis consists of four specific courses and fits within the animal science program similar to the other emphases.

For more information, email laura.walsh@uwrf.edu or call 715-425-3535.