Rutgers Food Systems Science Team Supports the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)

FSM’s Secretary Andrew Yatilman and Secretary Elina Akinaga visit Rutgers Plant Biology labs

Rutgers interdisciplinary food systems science team began its work with Federated States of Micronesia in 2020.

Rutgers food system science team offers agriculture and greenhouse training to College of Micronesia staff and students August 2023

Building upon their decades of experience supporting food production in developing countries, this dedicated team led by Dr Jim Simon (plant biologist and geneticist), in concert with Dena Seidel (food systems researcher and cultural anthropologist) Ramu Govindasamy (agricultural economist) and Oscar Schofield (marine scientist) is honored to support FSM’s sustainable food production goals. Rutgers research projects in the FSM involve assessing climate change’s impact farming families and strategies for the development of local food processing and food security policy. Core Rutgers collaborating scientists from several Rutgers departments include Yariv Ben Naim (Plant Biology), Lara Brindisi (Plant Biology), AJ Both and James Shope (Environmental Sciences), Rolan Hagan and Dave Bushek (Marine and Coastal Sciences), and collaborating ethnobotanist Mike Balik from the New York Botanical Gardens as well as Nolan Lewin and Julie Elmer from the NJ Food Innovation Center. Additional Rutgers faculty who have contributed to the projects for the FSM include Ethan Schoolman (Human Ecology), Emily Merchant (Public Health), Daniel Hoffman (Nutrition). Graduate and undergraduate students who have participated in this research include Tori Rosen, Erik Gomes, Nisha Khanna, Kirsten Allen, Martin Zorde, Erin Quinn, Guazabara Rivera and Lauren Koo.

Map of Federated States of Micronesia in the North Pacific

Completed projects for the Federated States of Micronesia include the Green Climate Fund Baseline Assessment featuring data from extensive surveys with more than 600 farming families as well as crop forecasting and steps to enhance climate smart agriculture with a foreword by FSM’s President Wesley Simina.

Building upon their original data, the Rutgers team was also asked to prepare the FSM’s Third National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change outlining the impact of a changing climate on all sectors of FSM’s society published on the UN website and the Agriculture and Food Production Vulnerability Assessment.

In addition, the Rutgers food systems science team worked closely with Pohnpei state’s department of Resources and Development to prepare that state’s Food Security Policy and Master Plan.

Rutgers food system science team visits the Island Food Community in Pohnpei, Micronesia March 2023.

In September 2024, Rutgers had the privilege of hosting two esteemed FSM dignitaries, Honorable Secretary Andrew Yatilman and Honorable Secretary Elina Akinaga

Andrew Yatilman, FSM’s Secretary of Environment, Climate and Emergency Management said “I am truly grateful to finally visit Rutgers and see first hand the breadth of scientific expertise that has been assisting our country these past few years.”

At the end of their Rutgers visit, Honorable Secretary Elina Akinaga of FSM’s Department of Resources and Development said: “FSM is a developing nation and we are in need of scientific expertise to help us reach our sustainable development goals. We truly appreciate the Rutgers science team’s hard work and dedicated commitment to working with our nation and our states and we look forward to growing this partnership.”