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Within Food Security and Sufficiency Project, the project aims to develop working groups to explore each island's challenges to sustainable agriculture and food security, and explore the cultural and economic barriers to island agricultural sustainability; develop an integrated program that allows community members to make informed decisions about a healthy diet through sustainable practices, such as backyard and community agriculture; match appropriate agricultural technologies to community and island needs; and identify government level challenges to sustainable region-wide agriculture, such as trade tariffs and agricultural water rights. <P>Within the Management and Accountability Project, the project aims to promote accountability and a high standard of excellence within our cooperating institutions in Hawaii, Alaska, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Palau; increase awareness by faculty and staff of federal administrative and accounting procedures, with a focus on allowable purchases and professional behaviors; and provide guidance in the management and administration of other ADAP projects to include timely progress reports, accurate accounting of ADAP project expenses, and coordination of the biannual ADAP meeting. <P>Within the Professional Development Project, the project aims to develop the leadership abilities of land grant directors, administrators, departmental chairs, researchers, and employees through workshops, mentorships, or conferences; create opportunities for Land Grant staff and others to pursue advanced degrees in agriculture or a related field; create opportunities for current graduate and undergraduate to continue their studies within agriculture or a related field leading to a degree or certificate; create opportunities for hands-on learning experiences for high school students to learn more about agricultural research and extension; create opportunities for faculty and staff to improve institutional capacity, and/or delivery of services by sponsoring or attending skills training, workshops, and conferences; and facilitate strategic planning for the ADAP institutions. <P>Within Communication, Information, and Publication Services Project, the project aims to provide communication services for regional coordination, such as internet access, document exchange services via fax, internet or mail, and communication services via telephone, email or fax; provide access to research materials through library document delivery services, internet-based database access for extension materials (such as AgNic), and library material exchanges and donations; and provide publication services for research and extension materials, brochures, and posters, such as assistance with layout, design, proofreading.<P> Within the Food Security Project, expected outputs include an island-wide plans for food security and sufficiency. <P>Within the Management and Accountability, and Professional Development Projects, expected outputs include a series of educational posters to illustrate appropriate behaviors to promote accountability and a high standard of excellence.
Non-Technical Summary: The Agricultural Development in the American Pacific (ADAP) Project was formally organized by the five directors of the Land Grant institutions in Hawaii and the United States-affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) in 1988, with the deans/directors of the Land Grant institutions serving as the board of directors. In Year 21, University of Alaska Fairbanks became a member of the consortium. The purpose of ADAP is to strengthen existing Land Grant programs by sharing and focusing resources on priority areas of common concern and interest. Priority areas are often unique to the Pacific region, having to do with limited-resources agriculture and cultural practices. Due to the unique natural and human resource base of the Pacific island agro-ecosystems, it is often not possible or appropriate to transfer results from temperate zone agricultural research, and materials for extension and teaching used by continental US Land Grant programs. ADAP supports applied research within the region, and the development of effective extension materials that are culturally appropriate. The Agricultural Development in the American Pacific (ADAP) Project Year 23, USDA/NIFA Federal Administration Grants Program, requests funding for a number of tasks with the goal of improving agricultural development across the Pacific. The ADAP Board of Directors reviewed and approved each unique ADAP task. The semi-annual review process ensures that each distinct task meets local and regional needs, while fully utilizing the regional capacity through regional, national, and international collaboration. Within this proposal, each task is detailed and includes objectives, procedures, justification, literature review (when applicable), current work, and project timetable. <P> Approach: Within the Management and Accountability Project, we will measure the outcomes by conducting a survey in September 2010, and repeated in July 2011, measuring the level of knowledge of best practices for accountability and a high standard of excellence, such as appropriate behaviors during work hours and professional behaviors. The survey will be conducted using online survey services, except where the internet accessibility will impair the ability of participants to take the survey. Survey participants will be taken from the Land Grant staff and faculty. Within the Food Security and Sufficiency Project, we will meet with all relevant organizations to plan for island-wide food security measures.