Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Agriculture Development in the American Pacific (ADAP) is a consortium of the 5 Pacific Land Grant colleges (American Samoa Community College; College of Micronesia [covering the Federated States of Micronesia - Pohnpei, Chuuk, Kosrae, Yap, Palau Community College, and the College of the Marshall Islands], Northern Marianas College, University of Guam, and the University of Hawaii. This group, comprised of the Directors of the respective institutions, meets twice each year with the annual meeting of WERA 1004 occurring in the summer. At this meeting, we discussed progress on the following projects: Healthy Living in the Pacific Islands; Better Crops for the Pacific Islands; Distance Education Opportunities; Pacific Land Grant Reporting and Accountability; Bioresidue Resource Assessment / Bioenergy Feedstock Assessment; Leadership Development; Enrichment Opportunities; Human Resources Capacity Building; Pacific Islands Distance Diagnostics and Recommendations System; and Pacific Emergency Management, Preparedness and Response Information Network and Training Services (Pacific EMPRINTS).

Pacific Emergency Management, Preparedness and Response Information Network and Training Services (Pacific EMPRINTS) Thirty-three learners from 11 Pacific Island nations were trained in Hawaii (July 29-August 5, 2006) on how best to conduct surveillance activities, and appropriately respond, to an Avian Influenza outbreak on their islands. As part of the surveillance efforts, some students learned Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, and others learned Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in addition to GPS to aid in reporting and tracking potential outbreaks. The training program included lectures and assistance from individuals within CTAHR, School of Nursing and Dental Hygeine, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Geological Survey, Department of Interior-Office of Insular Affairs, Honolulu Fire Department, Hawaii Department of Agriculture, US Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, and Secretariat of the Pacific Community. Distance Education Opportunities Project Cari-Pac Update ADAP facilitated the initial discussions on this new consortium, and provided a small amount of funding for the initial equipment purchases needed to produce a pilot DVD. The project is now funded by a competitive funding source (non-ADAP). The University of Guam has produced a pilot DVD for the Introduction to Agriculture course, and will soon begin production of the tele-course, Ag101. Better Crops in the Pacific Islands This projects aim was to do a number of field trials on new vegetables that might do well in the different tropical environments. Test crops included tomato, spinach, won bok cabbage, cucumber, bush beans, head cabbage, pechay, long bean, squash, water melon, corn, and others. Taste tests were conducted on harvested crops. Final recommendations for each seed crop are still forthcoming. Bioresidue Resource Survey / Bioenergy Feedstock Assessment Project Initial findings of the Bioresidue Resource Survey uncovered very limited amounts of bioresidue that could be redirected from current uses to energy production uses. Thus, the Bioresidue Resources Survey was cancelled in favor of the Bioenergy Feedstock Assessment Project. The revised project will focus on commercial viability of using coconut, Jatropha curcas, and fish oils for biodiesel production, and guinea grass for ethanol production. Test plots of each plant are currently underway to assess actual biomass yield of each plant in the study. Pacific Islands Distance Diagnostics and Recommendations System (PIDDRS) Project This project is fully operational all on US-affiliated Pacific Islands. The Western Pacific Diagnostics Network has adopted this system as their core technology and work with our network and the University of Georgia to continually improve this vital reporting technology. Leadership Development in the 21st Century (LEAD 21) The ADAP group has decided to let each institution take advantage of opportunity to participate in the LEAD21 program, or the opportunity to establish a locally-held, leadership development training program. This decision was made after careful consideration of the actual cost, with travel expenses, for a single persons participation in LEAD21. At this time, College of Micronesia has partnered with Northern Marianas College to conduct a leadership training program on Saipan; topic include Essential Skills of Leadership , Resolving Conflicts, Essential Skills for Communicating, and Managing Complaints. Enrichment Opportunities Project Funding for the Enrichment Opportunities Project supports workshops, staff training/development, and student internships/apprenticeship programs. University of Guam is currently planning for their sixth year of the High School Apprenticeship Program, matching students with research scientists in a research laboratory environment. Northern Marianas College conducted a Papaya workshop and helped to host the EFNEP meeting with these funds. Human Resources and Capacity Building Funding for the Human Resources and Capacity Building Project supports educational opportunities for staff members. At ASCC, Mr. Saitumua Frost has completed his Associate of Science degree and an additional 20 students participated in a summer learning program. At COM, Mr. Mark Kostka is working on his BA and Mr. Robert Jackson is working on his Masters degree. At NMC and UOG, multiple staff members are working on their Masters and Bachelor degrees. Pacific Accountability and Reporting System (PARS) Project This project was developed so that each Pacific Land Grant could keep track of their projects, people, and impacts. Directors and others have contributed needs so that the data fields match each institutions diverse needs. The PARS systems is in its testing phase. Once operational, viewers will be able to view the progress of multi-island (multi-institutional) projects at the same time.