The College of Micronesia’s Land Grant Program (COM LGP), in partnership with the Pohnpei State Offices of Resources and Development (R&D) and the Office of Fisheries and Aquaculture (OFA), recently conducted a two-day trainer’s training on sea cucumber processing led by Mr. Masaya Miyazaki of Ama Cho, Japan, on Tue Nov 26^th and Wed Nov 27^th. The event took place at COM LGP Program hatchery facility in Nett Point. The main focus of this training was to train selected key trainers on how to process sea cucumbers, particularly the sandfish that’s being hatched by aquaculture researcher Dr. Manoj Nair and his aquaculture research team at the experimentation station at Nett Point. Ultimately after the trainers satisfactorily complete the training, they would then provide the same training in each of their communities with the goal of promoting food security, health and economic development throughout.

The 2-day training program commenced with an opening ceremony at the research station in Nett Point where Master of Ceremony R&D Director Mark Kostka called to order the event and gave his brief welcome remark by acknowledging and thanking the dignitaries including Pohnpei State Governor Stevenson Joseph along with other diplomatic representatives such as the Deputy Chief of Mission from the U.S. Embassy to the FSM, and the Ambassador of Japan to the FSM. In his opening remarks, the Governor expressed his sincerest gratitude to both the Ambassador and the Deputy Chief of Mission for their ongoing support and steadfast contributions, providing a vital role in capacity-building efforts for economic development in the Micronesian region.

Group Pictured from left to Right – Pohnpei State R&D Director, Dr. Mr. Mark Kostka, Japan Ambassador to the FSM, H.E. Mr. Nobuo Kagomiya, Mr. Masaya Miyazaki of Ama Cho, Japan, Pohnpei State Governor, Honorable Stevenson Joseph, U.S. Embassy Charge’ d’affaires, Mr. Vincent Mut-Tracy, COM LG Associate Director (AES), DR. Manoj Nair, and Administrator Jorg Anson of the Office of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

On September 26, 2024, the College of Micronesia Land Grant Program Board of Regents conducted its 2024 4^th quarter Board meeting in Kosrae state at the COM-FSM Kosrae campus. The Executive Director, along with 3 COM Land Grant Program administrative staff, the three partner college Presidents of Palau Community College (PCC), College of Micronesia – Federated States of Micronesia (COM-FSM) and the College of the Marshall Islands (CMI), the three partner college Cooperative Research & Extension (CRE) Vice Presidents, COM-FSM’s Kosrae campus CRE Coordinator, several of COM-FSM’s CRE researchers, extension and support staff participated in the Board meeting. The core highlights of the meeting were focused on results of the previous directives from the Board meeting in Chuuk back in April, various agenda items including the approval of minutes, budget updates, policies, resolutions, investment performance and quarterly progress reports from the central office and the CRE Vice Presidents. The BOR also paid courtesy visits to the Kosrae state Governor’s and lieutenant Governor’s offices and the legislature where formalities and general discussions were held. The Board meeting concluded with a combined reception with the COM-FSM Board of Regents and the COM-FSM Kosrae campus faculty, support staff, Kosrae campus CRE personnel and honored guests including the governor and the first lady.

Group Pictured from left to Right – wearing lei’s: COMFSM President, Dr. Theresa Koroivulaono, CMI acting President, Dr. Elizabeth Swijaj, COM Land Grant Board of Regent, Dr. Emais Robert of Palau, Board of Regent, Vice Chair, Suzanne Gallen from the FSM, CRE Vice President Dr. Adedayo Akinade Ogunmokun of CMI. PCC President Dr. Patrick U. Tellei, PCC Vice President CRE, Dr. Christopher Kitalong, COMLG Central Office, Executive Directory Mr. Stanley Lorennij and Board of Regent, Minister Joe Bejang of CMI along with COMLand Grant researchers and staffs of the the three partner Colleges.

On August 15, 2024, COM Land Grant Executive Director Stanley Lorennij, accompanied by Aquaculture Chief Scientist and Director Dr. Manoj Nair along with Senior Extension Agent Engly Ioanis, paid a courtesy visit to Kolonia Town’s Mayor Honorable Kummer S. Biza at the Kolonia Townhall. 

The purpose of the visit was to reiterate proposals from the previous Kolonia Town Mayor’s administration regarding COM land grant initiatives. These included sidewalk maintenance, improvements to drainage in the current sidewalk drainage plan, and the establishment of staff parking spaces along the road adjacent to the COM land grant building. Additionally, pedestrian safety crosswalks on secondary roads leading to Dainy Street and across from the COM land grant office were also part of the discussions. 

Mayor Kummer S. Biza welcomed these proposals and tasked his Administrative Officer, Mr. Master Albert, to take the initiative in assisting the COM Land Grant with these projects. The meeting also touched on the honorable Mayor’s office’s plans for the implementation of urban farming within his jurisdiction, for which they sought support from the COM Land Grant.

Executive Director Lorennij expressed his excitement regarding this initiative, noting that food security, economic development, and health are part of the COM Land Grant’s mandate. He affirmed the organization’s readiness to partner in this effort. He further advised that grants are available for urban farming projects and that specific documents needed to be filled out for review and submission for these grants.

Pictured from left to Right: Mayor Kummer S. Biza, Sr, Extension Agent Mr. Engly Ioanis, Kolonia Town Administrative Officer Mr. Master Halbert, COM Land Grant Executive Director Mr. Stanley Lorennij, and Chief Scientist Dr. Manoj Nair

On August 2, 2024, the COM Land Grant Executive Director  Stanley Lorennij along with Director and Aquaculture Chief Scientist Dr. Manoj Nair met with Dr. Theresa Koroivulaono, President of COM-FSM, at the National Campus in Palikir, Pohnpei, FSM.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the current status of the sea cucumber project, the hatchery facility at Nett Point, and its lease agreement with the Pohnpei Port Authority, which is due for renewal by the end of this month, as well as possibilities of a transition of the aquaculture facility and its two aquaculture technicians to the COM-FSM CRE aquaculture program in anticipation of the arrival of the new aquaculture researcher for the COM-FSM CRE aquaculture program. Dr. Koroivulaono expressed strong support for this direction and looks forward to further planning and initiations between the two institutions.  

Pictured from left to Right: Mr. Stanley Lorennij, Executive Director, Dr. Manoj Nair, Aquaculture Chief Scientist, and Dr. Theresa Koroivulaono, President of the College of Micronesia FSM, on August 2, 2024.

On July 30, 2024, Hyunjeong Lee, who is currently managing the FSM Department of Education (FSM DOE) Skills and Employability Enhancement project, paid a courtesy visit to the College of Micronesia Land Grant program Central Office in Pohnpei and met with Executive Director Stanley Lorennij and the administration team to discuss and explore potential partnership and collaboration avenues to continue developing a robust support system for the SEE project in terms of high school curriculum developments and improvements in agriculture and other CTE fields and industries, master trainers/teachers, funding, etc.  After more than an hour of discussions, the executive director and Hyunjeong Lee wrapped up the meeting in good faith and understanding. In the end, the executive director indicated that the COM LG program supports the SEE project and will provide support wherever possible.

Pictured from left to Right: Mr. Stanley Lorennij, Executive Director, Mr. Betson Ifamilik, Land Grant CITO, Mr. Engly Ioanis, Sr. Extension Agent/Program, Ms. Hyunjeong Lee, FSM DOE representative, and Lerihna Lebehn Johnson, Executive Secretary, COM/BOR on July 30, 2024.