It is predicted that by 2050 the world’s population will reach 9.2 billion. As the population grows, food supply and production will become key. So will sustaining the environment for future generations. The University and Hub partners seek to address challenges around sustainable food production, more efficient land use, restoring and protecting water sources and fortifying the resilience of New Zealand’s eco-systems. Students can choose to major in either of the following: Plant Pest Management New Zealand’s primary sector, the environment, and our way of life are underpinned by biosecurity. In the recent Biosecurity 2025 Direction Statement it states that everyone in New Zealand has a part to play in our biosecurity system and everyone benefits from it. As such Lincoln University has historically played an important role in strengthening New Zealand’s biosecurity system through research undertaken in the Department of Pest Management and Conservation, and the Bio-Protection Research Centre. The Plant Pest Management specialisation now seeks to produce postgraduates graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to address new challenges - both current and future - facing New Zealand's environment. Vertebrate Pest Management The Government formed Predator Free 2050 Ltd in 2017 with the ambitious challenge of ridding New Zealand of possums, rats and stoats by 2050. This company is responsible for directing a significant amount of Crown investment into the predator free programme, with a focus on breakthrough science and large-scale predator control and eradication initiatives. Lincoln University has historically played an important role in pest management through research undertaken through the Department of Pest Management and Conservation, and the Centre for Wildlife Management and Conservation. The Vertebrate Pest Management specialisation now seeks to produce postgraduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to address new challenges - both current and future - facing New Zealand's environment. Summary of Regulations Students are required to complete 180 credits of taught courses from the Schedule of Courses for the Master of Pest Management over three semesters (18 months of study) and select one area of specialisation.