University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center developed course materials for multidisciplinary bioeconomy education and training, with input from the industry and local communities. The materials focus on training high-impact biotechnology professionals, including operators, scientists, managers, policymakers, and advocates.
The curriculum includes materials on:
Sustainable agriculture and carbon sequestration
Regulatory issues
Soil microbiomes
Feedstock, fermentation, and microbial engineering
Life cycle analysis
Indigenous perspectives on sustainability, culture, and community
Technology implementation and community acceptance
Native American perspectives on sustainability, culture, and community
The course materials were field-tested at two summer conferences and adjusted based on the feedback from both industry professionals and conference attendees to ensure their relevance. The modules are available to BioMADE members via the Member Portal.
ALAKA’I stands for ‘Aloha Life-Science Academy: Knowledge Advancing Industry’ and represents the Hawaiian concept of leadership or mentorship. Project ALAKAʻI was guided by two overarching objectives: increase familiarity with multiple disciplines at the intersection of biology, technology, and policy to more effectively implement bioeconomy solutions; and redefine “sustainability” by incorporating indigenous Hawaiian and Pacific Island perspectives to ensure that the proposed solutions benefit all.