Updated qualification designed to help students harness the power of plants

Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa, Massey University’s Bachelor of Horticultural and Plant Systems, has been introduced as an updated qualification designed to help students harness the power of plants, shape the future of sustainable plant-based food systems and meet the needs of Aotearoa New Zealand’s thriving horticultural industries.

Previously known as the Bachelor of Horticultural Science, the refreshed degree reflects the evolving role of horticulture in New Zealand. It explores how plants function as complex, dynamic systems, and how they contribute to food production, ecosystem health and economic resilience. The programme ensures students learn how to maximise production in our varying horticultural industries, including vegetable production, in a sustainable manner.

Plants are central to New Zealand’s economy, ecosystems and cultural identity. From native biodiversity to commercial growing, they underpin many of our most pressing challenges and opportunities. This degree equips the next generation of leaders with the skills and knowledge to tackle pressing local and global issues, including climate change and sustainable land use.

The Bachelor of Horticultural and Plant Systems now oƯers two majors, both designed to advance the future of New Zealand’s plant-based sectors. These are: Horticultural Production and Integrated Plant Biology. Horticulture Production focuses on the science and practice of growing and managing fruit, vegetables and ornamental crops. Integrative Plant Biology explores how plants work and how we use them, combining plant biology, genetics and ecology. This is ideal for those interested in careers in horticulture, conservation and plant breeding.

Head of School of Agriculture and Environment Professor Paul Kenyon says the updated degree is a step forward in better preparing students to meet the shifting environmental and production challenges facing New Zealand and the world.

“The programme not only teaches the science behind plants, but it also develops future leaders who can drive change across sectors, from sustainable food production to meet the worlds increasing food demands, to biodiversity conservation.”

“We are responding to both student interest and industry needs as the qualification brings together the latest plant science with real-world applications, providing the tools needed to drive sustainable change and strengthen the future of our land-based sectors. It’s about preparing students to think in systems, work with complexity and contribute to the kind of future we all want to see.”

Working with industry advisors, the reshaped qualification reflects a current skills gap as there is a significant demand for graduates for primary sectors roles. The primary sector is the only area where New Zealand is not seeing a reduction in demand for skilled workers.

“Massey graduates are in high demand, with many gaining significant roles in industry before they graduate. It is our role, as the leading university for agriculture and related disciplines in New Zealand, to make sure they are fully prepared, have access to industry experience via their work placements and the research that we at Massey pride ourselves on. This revised qualification helps us retain that position and continue our nearly 100- year legacy of providing the human resource in agriculture for the country,” Professor Kenyon says.

Learn about the Bachelor of Horticultural and Plant Systems