27/05/2026
POHNPEI STATE GOVERNMENT AND RUTGERS UNIVERSITY ADVANCE SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY PARTNERSHIP
Governor Stevenson Joseph and Director Mark Kostka Meet with Rutgers Food Systems Science Team to Align Pohnpei’s State Food Security Policy with the FSM National Agriculture and Food Security Policy
KOLONIA, POHNPEI STATE, FSM — Governor Stevenson A. Joseph, Chief of Staff Patterson K. Shed, and Director Mark E. Kostka of the Pohnpei State Department of Resources and Development welcomed the Rutgers University Food Systems Science Team this month for a series of high-level meetings focused on strengthening Pohnpei’s food security future. The visit centered on aligning the Pohnpei State Food Security Policy with the developing FSM National Agriculture and Food Security Policy and Food Production Master Plan, a milestone that reflects years of partnership between the Pohnpei State Government and Rutgers University in support of the state’s sustainable development goals.
A Partnership Rooted in Community
The Pohnpei State Food Security Policy, developed collaboratively by the Pohnpei State Department of Resources and Development and the Rutgers Food Systems Science Team, has served as the model framework for food security policy development across all four FSM states. Grounded in data gathered from hundreds of community surveys and participatory research with Pohnpei’s farming families, fishers, and community organizations, the policy reflects the knowledge, aspirations, and priorities of the people it serves.
“Our partnership with Rutgers has helped us develop policy grounded in the voices of our own communities. We are proud that Pohnpei’s work is helping to shape a national vision for sustainable food systems that will benefit all FSM states,” said Governor Joseph.
Linking State and National Food Security Goals
A central focus of the May 2026 meetings was ensuring that Pohnpei’s state-level Food Security Policy action items are fully integrated into the FSM National Agriculture and Food Security Policy and Food Production Master Plan currently under development by the Rutgers team in close collaboration with the FSM National Department of Resources and Development and all four state governments.
The national plan targets a 50 percent increase in locally produced food available to FSM households within five years, a 50 percent reduction in food import categories that can be produced within the FSM, and the creation of hundreds of new food system jobs across all four states. Its operational centerpiece, the FSM Food Innovation Infrastructure Network, is a nationally standardized three-tiered system of Food Innovation Centers designed to provide every FSM community with a structured entry point into the local food economy.
“The strength of the national plan rests on the strength of each state’s policies,” said Dr. Jim Simon, Distinguished Professor of Plant Biology and lead scientist for the Rutgers Food Systems Science Team working in the FSM. “Pohnpei has led the way by launching the first FSM state food security policy in 2025.”
Rutgers’ food security policy work is funded through the Green Climate Fund’s SAP020 project, “Climate-Resilient Food Security for Farming Households Across the Federated States of Micronesia,” administered by the Micronesia Conservation Trust.
Supporting Pohnpei State’s Food System Development
During their visit, the Rutgers team accompanied Director Kostka on a series of site visits throughout Pohnpei to locations identified for agricultural development and greenhouse construction. Pohnpei State’s strategy to increase local food production includes the cultivation of traditional staple crops, vegetables, and leafy greens that are currently imported.
The development of seed banks and germplasm collections has also been identified as a critical component of strengthening the state’s agricultural resilience. To support these efforts, Pohnpei State has contracted the Rutgers Food Systems Science Team to provide technical assistance during the implementation and development phases of the initiative.
“Our farmers are eager to begin growing more food for the market. They just need support and training as we continue building the production and supply chains that will provide our people with long-term food security,” said Director Mark E. Kostka. “We are grateful to have Rutgers scientists as partners throughout this process.”
