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.

“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.

About UOG Farmer Focus

Farmer Focus is a program of the University of Guam Land Grant Extension Service that researches the lives of farmers in the Pacific region while conducting outreach and education efforts to alleviate their stress and enhance their well-being. The program is a sub-grantee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture–funded Western Region Agricultural Stress Assistance Program at Washington State University.

About University of Guam Land Grant

The University of Guam Land Grant system provides instruction, research, and community outreach specific to agriculture, food, natural resources, nutrition, and consumer science in order to improve life in Guam and Micronesia. Its two Land Grant units include the agInnovation Research Center and the UOG Extension Service, which operate within the College of Natural & Applied Sciences. The University of Guam was designated an “1862 Land Grant University” in 1972 and is part of a network of 106 Land Grant institutions nationwide supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.