Project Overview

Reports

Commodities

• Additional Plants: coffee, greenhouse

• Human Health: workers, residents, applicators

Target Pests

Practices

• Pest Management: biological control, chemical control, pesticides, precision pesticide use

• Crop Production: application rate management, greenhouses

Funding is requested to continue the efforts of the American Pacific Island Collaboration Team/Work Group (API-CT/WG) to meet and work collaboratively to fulfill priorities outlined in the Needs Assessment previously funded in 2019 by the Western Region IPM Center. Membership in the API-CT/WG has expanded significantly to include extension educators and other industry representatives. In 2023 the goal is to expand participation in the API-CT/WG to include growers and other pesticide applicator stakeholders. With the requested funding, we plan to: (1) Support face-to-face and virtual meetings, in addition to online communication to address priorities identified by the Needs Assessment subsequent planning team meetings, (2) Deliver outreach education programs to stakeholders based on training provided during the pesticide safety education Train-The Trainer (TTT) that will be part of the face-to-face API WG meeting (3) Support collaborative efforts to develop educational materials and needs for future trainings meetings. The availability of a facilitator will ensure coordination of these efforts, maintain timelines, continued access to materials, facilitate collaboration, and streamline communications. Funds will also support the API-CT/WG’s efforts to focus on future training topics/delivery, exploring opportunities for sustainability, and WR IPM Center grant reporting.

Since the initial Needs Assessment in 2019, members of the API- CT/W have continued to meet, work collaboratively on projects identified as priorities, and discuss and plan future collaborative projects. Due to COVID travel restrictions imposed, most of those meetings were conducted virtually and face-to-face training has been limited. However, an extremely successful Train-The-Trainer workshop, funded by the WR IPM Center was held in Honolulu, HI, November 15-18, 2021. Participants included 21 members of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, 4 University of Hawaii extension educators, a representative from Guam EPA, and 15 participants from the mainland (who paid for their own travel to attend the workshop). Unfortunately, due to COVID travel restrictions, no other participants from the Pacific Island territories were able to attend. Fortunately, funds were included in the grant request to video tape the session which will allow for the information to be distributed to those who were unable to attend.

Funding of this proposal will provide:

• Follow up education to stakeholders in the form of outreach education based on education presented during the 2023 TTT workshop
• Allow for the API-CT/WG to meet face to face to:
  • Expand membership to include health care professionals and grower stakeholders.
  • Meet face to face to further efforts to review priorities established in 2019 to determine progress meeting those priorities.
  • Update needs assessment.
  • Continue to development educational modules identified as priories to complement and facilitate delivery of materials presented at the workshop. 

Project activities and topic areas for training are based on priorities established by the API WG. Diversity and size of the API WG continues to expand and grow. Support of this proposal will assist in educating this diverse group to continue efforts to serve their stakeholders.

The objectives of this project are to:

1. Enhance capabilities of partners and stakeholders to develop and implement programs/activities to prevent and reduce pesticide risks to agricultural farm workers and/or pesticide handlers.
2. Determine educator, regulator, and stakeholder needs by reviewing and updating the priorities of the 2019 API WG Needs Assessment.
3. Increase educator and regulator knowledge, skills, and confidence to facilitate increased engagement of stakeholder training.
4. Provide increased access to pesticide safety education materials.

   Objective	Process to Achieve Objective
   Short-Term Objectives   1. Continue American Pacific Islands Work Group (API-WG) to meet the identified needs and priorities for the American Pacific Island.	1a. Conduct initial virtual meeting of the API-CT/WG to outline grant objectives, and activities. 1b. Conduct Needs Assessment to determine priorities met since the 2019 Needs Assessment and other identified priorities. 1c. Set future monthly/bimonthly virtual meeting dates for virtual meetings. 1d. Determine face-to-face API WG face-to-face meeting/hands-on training date.
   2. Develop/identify/plan: Face-to-face API/WG meeting to review priorities established during the 2019 Need Assessment and develop an updated priorities including but not limited to: ·        Equipment Calibration to ensure accurate and safe application. ·        Regulatory compliance assistance needed by stakeholders (e.g., C&T, WPS, other regulations). ·        Language(s) for trainings/materials should be developed 3. Identify other API WG members.	2a. Reconvene 2019API WG members. 2b. Expand API WG membership to include health care professionals and others to include diverse perspectives and needs. 2c. Conduct API WG virtual meetings to develop/identify/plan face-to-face meeting and hands-on training for priorities identified during initial API WG meetings in 2019. 3a. People resources available to help train trainers (State Lead Agencies, farm worker, and community-based organizations).
   Intermediate-Term Objectives 1. Conduct API WG/Train-The-Trainer workshop to review updated Needs Assessment information, discuss and establish updated priorities. At the same time conduct to provide face-to-face training, hands-on demonstrations, and serve as an API- CT/WG meeting.   2. Identify the following priority topics and resources for future hands-on training delivery: a)     Five potential stakeholder audiences. b)     Identify collaborative projects to develop shared educational materials. c)     Educational material development to provide sustainable funding.   3. Hold two virtual API-CT/WG planning meetings to continue collaborative efforts to develop educational training materials that can be delivered using various methods for face-to-face and remote learning opportunities.	1.a API WG meeting/face-to-face training be a two day format breaking participants into smaller groups to ensure active and engaging participation. A final session at the completion of the hands-on training will serve as debriefing for the workshop.   2.a  Topics and resource priorities will be established during the face-to-face API WG meeting and re-evaluated and updated during virtual meetings.         3a. Meeting dates will be identified during the API WG meeting.
   Long-Term Objectives 1. Develop shared educational materials to deliver using multiple methods.         2. Evaluate stakeholder acceptance of training materials.	1a. API-CT/WG members will: ·        Rank development of materials in priority order. ·        Determine funds available to commit to material development. ·        Identify delivery methods that will reach the most stakeholders. ·        Establish an Action Plan for completion of materials. 2a. Evalutation plan included with ouput/outcome/performance standards attachment. 2b. APIWG facilitator will compare and contrast responses, determine areas for improvement, future needs identified, and report data as appropriate.