(From left) Kuan-Ju Chen, agricultural economist, University of Guam Land Grant; Theresa Koroivulao, president of the College of Micronesia-FSM; Don McMoran, Western Region Agricultural Stress Assistance Program (WRASAP) at Washington State University; Julie Jesmer, project coordinator, WRASAP; and Steven Young-Uhk, vice president and extension director, Cooperative Research & Extension, College of Micronesia-FSM at the Farmer Focus Conference in Pohnpei in 2023. (Photo courtesy of University of Guam)
On July 1, 2026, the University of Guam Land Grant Extension Service will host its fifth Farmer Focus Conference in the Micronesian region. Following prior conferences in Guam, Pohnpei, Yap, and Palau, the conference this year will be coming to the island of Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia.
The event will bring together farmers, fishermen, community leaders, researchers, and regional partners in agriculture from Chuuk and across the Pacific. Guided by the theme “Matawach, Fonuwach, ina Manawach” (Our Ocean, Our Land, Our Lives), the conference will underscore the vital connections between the ocean, land, and people while addressing the pressing issues of food security, sustainable livelihoods, and mental wellness for farmers and fishermen.
The Farmer Focus program at UOG takes a holistic approach to supporting agriculture, recognizing that sustainable and reliable food production depends not only on environmental health, but also on the well-being of the people who steward these resources. In addition to technical sessions on climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable fishing, the conference will include dedicated discussions and workshops focused on mental health, stress management, and community support systems for those working in agriculture and fisheries.
Bryan Wichep, agriculture agent for the College of Micronesia-FSM, takes notes during the Farmer Focus Conference on July 28, 2023, on the COM-FSM campus in Pohnpei. (Photo courtesy of University of Guam)
Mary Catherine Wiley, a UOG extension assistant shares mental health resources with two attendees of the Pohnpei Farmer Focus Conference on June 28, 2023. (Photo courtesy of University of Guam)
“Farmers and fishermen are the backbone of our island communities, yet they face increasing pressures from climate impacts and economic uncertainty,” said Kuan-Ju Chen, an agricultural economist with the UOG Land Grant Extension Service and program director of UOG Farmer Focus. “The conference reflects ongoing regional collaboration among Guam, the FSM, the Northern Marianas Islands, and Pacific partners to strengthen resilient island food systems and community well-being.”
“This conference is about strengthening the relationship among our people, our environment, and the future of our islands,” said Steven Young-Uhk, vice president for innovation and sustainability at the College of Micronesia-FSM. “For generations, Micronesian communities have depended on the land and ocean to sustain our way of life. We hope to strengthen resilient food systems that respect traditional knowledge while preparing for the challenges ahead.”
Community members, farmers, fishermen, and educators throughout Micronesia are encouraged to attend, as well as agricultural stakeholders and partners from abroad whose work may relate to agriculture in Micronesia and the Pacific islands.
The conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1, at Chuuk High School in Weno, Chuuk. Registration is free of charge. To register, contact Bredalyn Atan at (691) 330-1911 or atanbred@comfsm.edu.fm. The registration deadline is Monday, June 15.
(Photos courtesy of University of Guam)
