(Illustration courtesy of University of Guam)
Farmers, food processors, and agriculture professionals are invited to attend a free Agricultural Food Safety Training from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. this coming Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at the University of Guam’s agricultural research station in Yigo.
Funded by the Pacific Food Safety Education & Training Collaborative — a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant through Oregon State University — the training is part of a broader initiative to strengthen food systems, improve resilience across Pacific Island communities, and improve familiarity of evolving federal standards.
As Guam’s agricultural sector continues to grow — with a rising number of small and beginning farmers — access to affordable, locally relevant training is essential, said Jian Yang, an extension specialist of food science at the University of Guam.
Attendees will have a unique opportunity to learn directly from food safety and food production experts from four Western region colleges of agriculture. Presentations will include:
- Agricultural Water
By Emilie Kirk
Associate Extension Agent of Sustainable & Organic Agriculture
University of Hawai’i at Mānoa
- Processing Local Crops into Products
By Jian Yang
Extension Specialist of Food Science
University of Guam
- Soil Amendments and Compost
By Josh Silva
Assistant Extension Agent of Tropical Soil Science & Food Safety
University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Pesticides and Cleaning and Sanitizing Basics
By Dave Stone
Associate Dean of International Programs and Former Director of the Food Innovation Center
Oregon State University
- Kitchen and Processing Food Safety
By Josh Bevan
Director of Food Technology Center
University of Idaho
- Animal Intrusion & Sanitizer Demos
The training will also address requirements under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) impacting producers, processors, and distributors. These updates are especially relevant as consumer demand grows for fresh, ready-to-eat, and specialty food products.
Registration is free of charge and available at https://url.uog.edu/food-safety. The event agenda can be viewed at https://url.uog.edu/tu5q6z.
