The University of Maine was the first in the country to offer a bachelor’s degree in sustainable agriculture. The B.S. degree in Sustainable Agriculture emphasizes 

• Building healthy soil through crop rotations, organic soil amendments and erosion management
• Protecting water quality by reducing synthetic chemical use
• Managing pest and weed problems with integrated, ecologically sound approaches
• Increasing farm profits and income stability through diverse, community-based enterprises
• Using knowledge of scientific principles to propose and test farming practices that better mimic natural ecosystems.