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 National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded the University of Hawaii, doing business as the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR), $2,976,784 under the Smith-Lever Extension Funding program on October 1, 2025, for cooperative extension activities addressing Hawaii's agricultural challenges.

CTAHR operates a statewide network of 22 research and extension stations across five Hawaiian islands, delivering cooperative extension services spanning invasive species management, improved cultivation and processing of specialty crops, agricultural advanced technology, value-added product development, forest productivity and protection, plant and animal breeding, biofuel development, food safety and security, and nutrition programs. The college works within four critical issue areas: vibrant tropical and Pacific Island agriculture and food; ecosystem health and natural resources management; resilient and thriving communities and community health; and workforce and economic development.

The award reflects Hawaii's structural economic constraints—elevated land, labor, and energy costs; imported agrochemical and feed dependence; limited export competitiveness; and reduced interest in farming—which CTAHR addresses through innovative research and extension partnerships with stakeholders across the state to increase local food production and profitability.

The period of performance runs October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2030, with place of performance in Honolulu, Hawaii. Smith-Lever Extension Funding supports the development and delivery of practical applications of research knowledge at land-grant institutions through cooperative extension programming.

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.