During their visit, Wheaton and Boyd assisted local NRCS Field Office partners and stakeholders to address natural resource concerns and opportunities associated with piggeries. The NRCS team surveyed anaerobic digesters, which produce a methane-rich biogas that can be used for fuel similar to natural gas.
On March 28, Wheaton, Boyd, and the NRCS Field Office Team met with College of Micronesia-FSM Agriculture Professor Kiyoshi Phillip and toured the COM-FSM piggery and composting facility. The following day, the NRCS delegation visited anaerobic digesters at Ohwa Christian Academy and in Pohnlangas, Madolenihmw. To support the creation of a “standard” anaerobic digester design for Pohnpei, they also conducted engineering assessments of private piggeries throughout Pohnpei.
On March 30, Boyd conducted a presentation entitled “Manure is not a Waste Unless it is Wasted” at the College of Micronesia-FSM National Campus in Palikir. The presentation was part of the U.S. Embassy/COM-FSM Forum Lecture Series, which provides U.S. government professionals as guest speakers for COM-FSM students, faculty, staff, and interested community members. During the lecture, Boyd detailed how plan manure management systems to utilize manure as a source of energy and nutrients for agro-forestry systems.
On April 1, the NRCS team led a forum titled “Piggeries, Health and the Environment, and Anaerobic (Biogas) Discussion” at the Pohnpei State Administration Building in Kolonia. The event included government officials, environmental NGO representatives, members of the diplomatic corps, and other agricultural, health, and environmental stakeholders. The discussion began with opening remarks by U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Lori Dando, followed by Pohnpei Lt. Gov. Churchill Edward. The agenda included remarks by NRCS Resources Conservationist Paul Lake, Pohnpei State Public Health Chief Dr. Rally Jim, Pohnpei Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Educator Francis Celestine. The second portion of the discussion included an anaerobic digester summary and the initial NRCS design, an overview of the Chinese biogas project by Chinese Embassy First Secretary Ouyang Xiaohong, and grant funding opportunities through GEF Micronesia Small Grants Program and USDA Rural Development.
