The college of tropical agriculture and human resilience (ctahr) at the university of hawaii at manoa (UHM) oversees a statewide network of 22 research and extension stations on five hawaiian islands

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded the University of Hawaii, doing business as the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR), $2,333,318 under the Hatch Act formula grant program (CFDA 10.203) on October 1, 2025, for agricultural research conducted through a statewide network of 22 research and extension stations across five Hawaiian islands.

CTAHR delivers a broad spectrum of agricultural research and cooperative extension activities addressing Hawaii's structural economic constraints—elevated land, labor, and energy costs; dependence on imported agrochemicals and animal feed; and limited skilled agricultural workforce. Research and extension focus areas include invasive species management; improved cultivation and processing of specialty crops; agricultural advanced technology; development of value-added products; plant and animal breeding and genetic improvement; biofuel development; forest productivity and protection of forests, watersheds, and coastal resources; plant stress and productivity; food safety and security; and human nutrition programs. Work is performed in Honolulu, Hawaii. The period of performance runs October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027.

Under the Hatch Act program structure, funds are allocated to eligible State Agricultural Experiment Stations using a statutory formula. Hatch funding is expected to be fully expended in the fiscal year of appropriation; up to 100 percent of funds may be carried over for up to one year after the end of the year for which they were appropriated with no prior approval required.

Ctahr, in partnership with stakeholders across the state, is actively working to increase local food production while also making IT more profitable. While there are opportunities, there are also substantial constraints. The costs of land, labor, and energy exceed those found in most other states. Agrochemicals and animal feed are mostly imported and exporting products to distant markets reduces the farmers' competitive ability. The high costs of energy, lack of skilled labor, and reduced interest in farming are major challenges. Ctahr understands these challenges and engages in a broad spectrum of innovative research and cooperative extension activities, including: management of invasive species that constantly threaten the 'gateway' state of hawaii; improved cultivation and processing of specialty crops; agricultural advanced technology; d evelopment of value-added products; increasing forest productivity; protection of forests, watersheds and coastal resources; plant and animal breeding and genetic improvement; biofuel development; plant stress and productivity; food safety and security; the health (mental, physical, and financial) of hawaii 's citizens and communities; and human nutrition programs. Ctahr works within the framework of four critical issues: vibrant tropical and pacific island agriculture and food; ecosystem health: natural resources management and protection; resilient and thriving communities and community health; and workforce and economic development.