Progress 09/01/08 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Within the Food Security and Sufficiency (FSS) Project, ADAP held a planning meeting in November 2008 to identify the challenges to backyard agriculture, challenges to locally-grown produce, and challenges faced by farmers who export produce. This meeting raised regional awareness and led to many, diverse, local efforts: American Samoa Community College's (ASCC) FSS efforts include the establishment of the Food Policy Council, signed into effect by Governor, Honorable Togiola Tulafono, October 2009. The purpose of the council is to advise the Governor on Food Policy issues in American Samoa, to identify policies that are needed to strengthen the food security and health in American Samoa, and to foster inter-departmental collaboration to implement food policy council in American Samoa. Council members included representatives from the American Samoa Governor's Office, Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Department of Marine & Wildlife Resources, and the Office of Samoan Affairs. College of Micronesia (COM) held three workshops on traditional crops and traditional farming systems to encourage sustainability. In Majuro (CMI), a 4-day training workshop (04/6-9/09) was attended by 23 local growers, farmers, and extension staff. In Mwoakilloa, Pohnpei (FSM), a 5-day workshop (09/29-10/3/09) was attended by 59 local growers, farmers, and extension staff. In Weno, Chuuk (FSM), a 5-day workshop (11/22-26/10) was attended by 22 local growers, farmers, and extension staff. At University of Hawaii, FFS focused on outreach activities, and developing publications on food safety in home and school gardens. The project also produced signs for farmer's market booths that allow farmers to identify their "Grown in Hawaii" foods. At University of Alaska Fairbanks, a survey instrument to measure food security was developed and administered via phone interviews. The findings were published in Charles Caster's Senior Thesis. University of Guam FFS conducted a one-day conference (01/26/10), "Guam's Community Food System: Community Food System Review". Local farmers, stakeholders, food distributors, farmers and fishermen co-op, various government agencies, and college students were among the invited guests. Follow-up focus groups were formed and sessions were held to receive stakeholder input on community food security issues. Findings were disseminated at a follow-up session (06/16-17/10). The Professional Development Project creates opportunities for workforce development through educational opportunities for faculty and staff, and increases interest in agricultural sciences by offering opportunities to college and high school students. At Northern Marianas College (NMC), 28 high school students participated in a summer internship program. Also, at NMC, college and program leaders attended the Grants Writing workshop in Guam, January 13-15, 2010. At UOG, 5 high school students participated in Summer Research Apprenticeship Program. Additionally, NMC, ASCC, and UOG all offered aid to staff members seeking college courses to continue their education, to increase job performance. PARTICIPANTS: Participants in the various ADAP projects included faculty, staff, and undergraduates of American Samoa Community College, College of Micronesia, Northern Marianas College, University of Guam and University of Hawaii. Additionally, high schooners from American Samoa and Guam participated in hands-on learning opportunities at their local Land Grant College. The Food Security projects at American Samoa and Guam included community members, other government offices, and farmers/growers. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience in the various ADAP projects included faculty, staff, and students at the Pacific Land Grant Colleges(American Samoa Community College, College of Micronesia, Northern Marianas College, University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Guam, and University of Hawaii), and the communities that they serve. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Within the Food Security and Sufficiency Project, project activities have pulled together disparate groups together to begin discussions about how to manage of our food issues. In College of Micronesia workshops, the participants learned valuable skills in subsistence farming, and composting. This change in knowledge will assist the families and communities of the participants to be less vulnerable to going hungry and be more likely to have a nutritious diets, and thus, less prone to obesity and debilitating long-term illnesses, such as diabetes. The composting component of this workshop is valuable to the communities because of the high costs associated with transporting crop fertilizer to small island communities. In University of Guam and American Samoa Community College workshops, participants learned more about challenges to food security and sufficiency. This change in knowledge will raise awareness of hunger within the community, help shape public policy, and raise awareness of the interreliance between local farmers/growers, distributors, local fishermen, grocers/businesses, and the local community. Promotion of local produce will lead to a change in actions and lead to more nutritious diets, and thus, lower incidence of obesity and debilitating long-term illnesses, such as diabetes. At University of Hawaii, publication and distribution of publications, "Best On-Farm Food Safety Practices: Reducing Risks Associated with of Rat Lungworm Infection and Human Eosinophilic Meningitis" and "Best Food Safety Practices for Hawaii and Pacific Island Home Gardeners" will lead to a change in knowledge, increasing awareness by community members and growers. Also, we will see a change in action with additional local produce purchased at Hawaii Farmers markets, due to new informational signs being used to promote locally-grown produce. At University of Alaska Fairbanks, the food security survey and publication will raise awareness and inform the public and policy makers on food security risks and challenges. Also, within Professional Development, our project strives to create change in conditions for the Pacific Land Grants by providing for the development of human resources through higher education. Additionally, this activity provides a change in knowledge for the participants. ADAP provides an opportunity for employees to pursue higher education through a tuition reimbursement program. Also, ADAP has supported programs aimed at high school students to increase enrollment within Agriculture and Human Resource sciences. Within the Communications, Information and Publications Services Project, access to library resources at UH allows our collaborators to produce higher caliber extension materials for their colleges and produce higher caliber proposals. This change in conditions helps the Land Grant, the community, and the researcher.
Publications
- Caster, C.D. 2011. Assessing Food Security in Fairbanks, Alaska. Senior Thesis ST 2011-01, School of Natural Resources & Agricultural Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks. Hollyer, J., Brooks, F., Nakamura-Tengan, L., Castro, L., Grzebik, J., Sacarob, M., Troegner, V., Meyer, D., Radovich, T., Bernal, L. M., and Kishida, D. 2011. Student and Food Safety: Best Practices for Hawaii School Gardens. Food Safety and Technology, no. 45, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
- Hollyer, J., Troegner, V.A., Cowie, R.H., Hollingsworth, R.G., Nakamura-Tengan, L.C., Castro, L.F., and. Buchholz, A.E. 2010. Best on-farm food safety practices: Reducing risks associated with rat lungworm infection and human eosinophilic meningitis. Food Safety and Technology, no. 39, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
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Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Within the Food Security Project, successes of the American Samoa Community College's efforts include the establishment of the Food Policy Council, signed into effect by Governor, Honorable Togiola Tulafono, October 2009. The first council meeting was held in December 28, 2009. Council members included representatives from the American Samoa Governor's Office, Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Department of Marine & Wildlife Resources and the Office of Samoan Affairs. The purpose of the council is to advise the Governor on Food Policy issues in American Samoa, to identify policies that are needed to strengthen the food security and health in American Samoa, and to foster inter-departmental collaboration to implement food policy council in American Samoa. In April 27, 2010, the council agreed on collaborative effort and commitments between agencies in the American Samoa Government to implement the inventory of import food to determine what kind of food is available on the island. The Council is on schedule to complete its report on food security and submit to the Governor by December 2010. Within the Food Security Project , at the University of Guam, the program funded a one-day conference on food security on January 26, 2010, called "Guam's Community Food System: Community Food System Review". Local farmers, stakeholders, food distributors, farmers and fishermen co-op, key personnel from various government agencies as well as college students were among the invited guests to the conference. The main objective of the conference was to develop a pilot project on local food production and stores. Also, focus groups were formed and sessions were held to receive stakeholder input on community food security issues. A follow-up session with the focus group was held in June 16-17, 2010, to disseminate information from previous meeting. Within the Food Security Project, at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the survey instrument to measure food security was administered via phone interviews. The results are being tabulated. The Professional Development Project creates opportunities for high school students to learn about agricultural sciences. We previously reported on the 2009 summer programs at UOG and NMC. The NMC Program was incorrectly reported as having 31 participants; in 2009, 28 participants completed the program. At ASCC, ADAP provided administrative support for the ASCC Summer Institute Program, in which forty-five participated. The Professional Development Project also provides opportunities for workforce development through education, such as short workshops, or longer college coursework. From COM, Robert Jackson attended at the USDA National Extension and Research Administrative Officers' Conference (NERAOC) in Baltimore (May 2009). From NMC, college and program leaders attended the Grants Writing workshop in Guam, January 13-15, 2010. In support of the Management and Accountability Project and the Professional Development Project, Jim Hollyer worked with several CTAHR programs to develop the programs strategic plan and/or facilitate meetings, including the Center of the Family, and 4H. PARTICIPANTS: Participants in the various ADAP projects included faculty, staff, and undergraduates of American Samoa Community College, College of Micronesia, Northern Marianas College, University of Guam and University of Hawaii. Additionally, high schooners from American Samoa and Guam participated in hands-on learning opportunities at their local Land Grant College. The Food Security projects at American Samoa and Guam included community members, other government offices, and farmers/growers. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience in the various ADAP projects included faculty, staff, and students at the Pacific Land Grant Colleges, and the communities that they serve. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Within the Food Security and Sufficiency Project, participants at island workshops in American Samoa and Guam have learned more about challenges to food security and sufficiency. This change in knowledge will raise awareness of hunger within the community, help shape public policy, and raise awareness of the interreliance between local farmers/growers, distributors, local fishermen, grocers/businesses, and the local community. Promotion of local produce will lead to a change in actions and lead to more nutritious diets, and thus, lower incidence of obesity and debilitating long-term illnesses, such as diabetes. Also, within Professional Development, our project strives to create change in conditions for the Pacific Land Grants by providing for the development of human resources through higher education. Additionally, this activity provides a change in knowledge for the participants. ADAP provides an opportunity for employees to pursue higher education through a tuition reimbursement program. Across the region, many employees have graduated with degrees in General Agriculture, Natural Resources, Family and Consumer Sciences, Business Administration, Horticulture, and other degrees. Additionally, ADAP has supported programs aimed at high school students to increase enrollment within Agriculture and Human Resource sciences.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/08 to 08/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Within the Food Security and Sufficiency Project, ADAP held a planning meeting in November 2008 to identify the challenges to backyard agriculture, challenges to locally-grown produce, and challenges faced by farmers who export produce. As a result of this initial meeting, College of Micronesia held two workshops. In Majuro (CMI), a four-day training workshop was organized at the College of the Marshall Islands, Arrak Campus and Farmers' Field, from April 6th to 9th, 2009. Twenty-three local growers, farmers and extension staff including youth, and women attended the workshop, which was conducted in both Marshallese and English languages. Later in 2009, a five-day workshop was organized at the Mwoakilloa Municipal Government, Mwoakilloa, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia and Farmers' Field, Mwoakilloa from September 29th to October 3rd, 2009. Fifty-nine local growers, farmers and extension staff including youth, and women attended and participated in the training workshop, which was conducted in both Mwoakillese and English languages. At UH, our Food Security and Sufficiency project focused on developing local capacity by promoting local produce and by working to mitigate risks via on farm food safety coaching. ADAP is also working with CTAHR to ensure food safety at the farm (or home garden) by developing publications on food safety, avoiding Rat Lungworm infection, and home garden food safety. Angiostrongyliasis (Rat Lungworm) is caused by a foodborne parasite that occurs in tropical regions. The project will also be producing signs for farmer's market booths that allow farmers to identify their "grown in Hawaii" foods. The Professional Development Project creates opportunities for high school students to learn about agricultural sciences. Across our collaborators, ADAP conducted two high school outreach programs designed to increase interest in agricultural sciences: NMC's ADAP High School Summer Internship program (2009 - 31 participants) and UOG's Summer Research Apprenticeship Program (5 participants). The Professional Development Project provides opportunities for workforce development through educational opportunities. The educational opportunities can be short workshops, or longer college coursework. At UH, ADAP contributed funds for the participation of James Hollyer (ADAP Project Manager; class of 2009), in the LEAD21 program. Also at UH, ADAP continued support of a Graduate Assistantship position (June to December 2009) for a student from American Samoa, pursuing his Masters degree in Horticulture. At NMC, ADAP provided funding for three staff members to attend staff development workshops and three staff member to take college courses. At UOG, ADAP provided funding for two employees within the college advanced degrees. Within the Communications, Information and Publications Services Project, we provided services that allowed researchers of the non-Hawaii Pacific Land Grant access the University of Hawaii library resources. During the period, 01/2009 to 06/2009, the ADAP Librarian assisted with 13 resource searches; retrieved 56 articles; and assisted with 1 book loans ADAP collaborators in ASCC, COM, and UOG. PARTICIPANTS: Participants in the various ADAP projects included faculty, staff, and undergraduates of the following Land Grant colleges: American Samoa Community College, College of Micronesia, Northern Marianas College, University of Guam, and University of Hawaii. Additionally, high school students from American Samoa and Guam participated in hands-on learning opportunities at their local Land Grant college. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience in the various ADAP projects included faculty, staff, and undergraduates of the following Land Grant colleges: American Samoa Community College, College of Micronesia, Northern Marianas College, University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Guam, and University of Hawaii. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Within the Food Security and Sufficiency Project, deans have started to pull together disparate groups to begin have discussions about how to manage of our food issues. In island workshops, the participants within the workshops have learned valuable skills in subsistence farming, and composting. The two crops the workshops focused on were traditional ones, taro and sweet potatoes. This change in knowledge will assist the families and communities of the participants to be less vulnerable to going hungry and be more likely to have a nutritious diets, and thus, less prone to obesity and debilitating long-term illnesses, such as diabetes. The composting component of this workshop is valuable to the communities because of the high costs associated with transporting crop fertilizer to small island communities. At UH, publication and distribution of publications, "Best On-Farm Food Safety Practices: Reducing Risks Associated with of Rat Lungworm Infection and Human Eosinophilic Meningitis" (in draft) and "Best Food Safety Practices for Hawaii and Pacific Island Home Gardeners" (in draft) will lead to a change in knowledge, increasing awareness by community members and growers. Also, we will see a change in action with additional local produce purchased at Hawaii Farmers markets, due to new informational signs being used to promote locally-grown produce. Also, within Professional Development, our project strives to create change in conditions for the Pacific Land Grants by providing for the development of human resources through higher education. Additionally, this activity provides a change in knowledge for the participants. ADAP provides an opportunity for employees to pursue higher education through a tuition reimbursement program. Across the region, many employees have graduated with degrees in General Agriculture, Natural Resources, Family and Consumer Sciences, Business Administration, Horticulture, and other degrees. Additionally, ADAP has supported programs aimed at high school students to increase enrollment within Agriculture and Human Resource sciences. Within the Communications, Information and Publications Services Project, access to library resources at UH allows our collaborators to produce higher caliber extension materials for their colleges and produce higher caliber proposals. This change in conditions helps the Land Grant, the community, and the researcher. Bi-annual director's meetings have allowed dean's to take a larger, more integrated approach to all the federal -projects under their purview. This has allowed for more efficiency on campuses and across the region.
Publications
- Hollyer, J. and Troegner, V. 2010. Best Food Safety Practices for Hawaii and Pacific Island Home Gardeners. CTAHR Extension Food Safety and Technology FST39. (in draft)
- Hollyer, J.R., Troegner, V.A., Cowie, R.H., Hollingsworth, R.G., Nakamura-Tengan, L.C., Castro, L.F., and Buchholz, A.E. 2010. Best On-Farm Food Safety Practices: Reducing Risks Associated with Rat Lungworm Infection and Human Eosinophilic Meningitis. CTAHR Extension Food Safety and Technology. (in draft)
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