Economics

Wild blueberries

Seven MAFES faculty receive Wild Blueberry Advisory Committee’s 2026 research and extension awards

The Wild Blueberry Advisory Committee (WBAC) is a group of 7 industry representatives appointed by the Commission to set research, development, and Extension priorities and recommend funding allocations for the UMaine wild blueberry research and Extension projects. All WBAC award funding is derived from the wild blueberry tax. After hearing research and Extension faculty present their proposals in February, […]

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41 faculty members, including eight MAFES faculty, receive tenure and/or promotion or just-cause protection status and promotion

At the University of Maine, 41 faculty members have received tenure and/or promotion or just-cause protection status and promotion effective July 1, 2026, or September 1, 2026. The annual announcement recognizes outstanding achievement in teaching, scholarship and research, and community engagement. Tenure for 17 of the faculty members was approved by the University of Maine […]

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Students engaging in different ways at UMaine

Why students are choosing UMaine: Strong job outcomes drive decisions ahead of May 1

As the May 1 college decision deadline approaches, students are showing increased interest in academic programs with clear career pathways. At the University of Maine, that trend is evident across disciplines tied to growing sectors of the U.S. economy, including engineering, health care and biomedical sciences, business, natural resources and environmental sciences, agriculture and food […]

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‘The Maine Question’ explores the reality of ‘forever chemicals’

A group of chemicals known as PFAS have become a growing concern for human health, agriculture and the environment. Because they resist breaking down, these “forever chemicals” can accumulate in soil, water and food systems and expose people to a range of adverse health conditions. From nonstick cookware and disposable tableware to everyday items like […]

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From Maine to Mexico: Working waterfronts with less variety carry more risk

More than 70% of Maine’s fishing value comes from American lobster. The fishery has delivered prosperity for decades, but it also leaves coastal communities exposed if lobster populations falter, ocean conditions shift or markets change. That pattern is not unique to Maine. For more than 20 years, University of Maine professor of marine sciences Heather […]

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MAFES & UMaine make headlines worldwide in 2025

Whether it’s conducting cutting-edge research, commenting on current events or receiving that diploma, University of Maine faculty, students and leaders made headlines locally, nationally and internationally in 2025. From research labs and classrooms to commencement stages and championship arenas, UMaine was featured in more than 18,000 stories published from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025. […]

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Highmoor Farm keeps pumpkin and apple season alive in Maine

Pumpkin season starts at the University of Maine’s Highmoor Farm early in June. David Handley, a small fruit and vegetable specialist at University of Maine Cooperative Extension, and Mark Hutton, associate professor of vegetable crop, watch as the pumpkins grow, taking calls along the way from farmers in Maine who may be experiencing their own […]

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wind turbines

Renewable energy in Maine

Eleven of Maine’s 16 counties have poverty levels that exceed the national average. The International Energy Agency and World Health Organization have linked energy and poverty, claiming that equitable access to affordable energy is a crucial step toward economic development in rural areas. Maine spends approximately $4 billion per year on imported energy, and approximately […]

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wharf

Community health and resilience

Maine faces a wide range of economic development challenges, such as supporting entrepreneurship and small business development, workforce development issues, strengthening the retail sectors of communities around the state, and identifying sectors for cluster enhancement. These issues are important to state and local policymakers, economic development officials and practitioners, and Maine businesses and workers. This […]

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pond

Benefits and costs of natural resources policies affecting ecosystem services on public and private lands

Natural resource agencies and institutions at the federal, state, and local levels, as well as private landowners, attempt to balance economic growth and environmental quality. Emphasis on environmental quality is evident in provisions of the most recent Farm Bills; in agricultural land preservation programs at the local, state and federal levels; and in legislative mandates […]

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