Preserving our environment and producing healthy and nutritious food to support our growing world population are among the greatest challenges of our time; meeting these challenges necessitates solutions that are efficacious, environmentally sustainable, and cost-effective. KPU is emerging as a leader in BC in promoting a range of sustainability initiatives in agriculture, horticulture, food systems, environmental protection technology, and public policies aimed at reducing unsustainable practices.
KPU has two well-established research institutes: the Institute for Sustainable Horticulture (ISH) and the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems (ISFS). These institutes are making groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of how to advance sustainable horticulture and food systems in BC and beyond. The ISH was created as a partnership between academia, horticulture industries, and communities to support BC in meeting demands for a higher level of sustainability and environmental responsibility from horticulture, silviculture, forestry, and urban landscapes. The ISH facilities are unique in that they include both research and production capacity for new microbial products. ISFS investigates and supports regional food systems as key elements of sustainable communities, with a focus predominantly on BC but also other regions. Research at ISFS focuses on the potential of regional food systems in terms of agriculture and food, economics, community health, nutrition, policy, and environmental integrity. ISFS programming provides information and support for farmers, communities, business, policy makers, and others. Community collaboration is central to its approach. KPU’s focus on sustainability involves interaction with, and is relevant to, municipalities, school districts, community organizations, regional small and medium-sized enterprises, regional Indigenous communities, and the public at large.
Areas of research focus include: biological pest management, sustainable urban and peri-urban horticultural practices, integrated horticultural agricultural practices, environmental management, crop yield, green waste management, biofuel production and utilization, greenhouse design, food, economics, community health, policy, and environmental integrity.