PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 8:17 PM by Luigi

Cyrtosperma and other local foods in Pohnpei

From Dr Lois Englberger.

Here below are recent items shared with Claudia David, V6AH Radio of Pohnpei. They relate to the rich mineral content of giant swamp taro, or mwahng (Cyrtosperma) and the LET’S GO LOCAL CLUB activities. Claudia has shared with me that the items were broadcast last week according to their regular news broadcasts, at 12 noon, 3 pm and 7 pm, in English and Pohnpeian.

An exciting thing about the Let’s Go Local Club item is that the students themselves were involved in writing their news item. Thank you to Marvin Obispo and his group!

Perhaps some of you here on Pohnpei have heard these items on the radio!! We look forward to comments and hope that this may be a way of broadening our target audience and promoting healthy and tasty local island foods!

Thank you again Claudia and also to Marvin and all the Let’s Go Local Club members!
Lois

NEWS ITEMS

Sept 18:
Recent studies on giant swamp taro (or mwahng) by the Island Food Community of Pohnpei shows that there are a number of varieties rich in the essential minerals iron, zinc, and calcium. This is confirmed by scientific analyses on Pohnpei samples carried out in laboratories in mainland United States and Australia. Iron is needed for building strong blood, zinc is needed for fighting infection, and calcium is needed for strong bones and teeth. Mwahng contains almost 10 times the level of these minerals as compared to rice, the common imported food. Mwahng could significantly contribute to an adult’s estimated daily requirements of these minerals along with a consumption of about two cups in the morning and two cups in the evening.

September 19:
On September 12, 2006, the “Let’s Go Local Club” made up of high school students had their second round of community service work focusing on teaching about the high values of local food. There were a total of 23 students, including 10 new recruits. They first met at the Pohnpei Upward Bound office. A short humorous presentation was made by Miuky Paul, Gidson Santos and Marvin Obispo, for refreshing old members’ memories about the Pohnpei Carotenoid-rich Foods poster and training the new members. After this, the students set off around Kolonia for distributing and teaching about the posters, all wearing their green Let’s Go Local t-shirts. One of the most interesting encounters was that of the group led by Marvin Obispo, explaining the poster to a class of around 20 students at the Lady of Mercy school, as taught by Sister Gloria. She was so interested in the presentation that she invited the students to come back again. The next meeting of the Let’s Go Local Club is on 7 October and new members are also invited. Kalahngan!!

Lois Englberger, PhD
Island Food Community of Pohnpei
P. O. Box 2299
Kolonia, Pohnpei 96941 FM
Tel: 691-320-8639 Fax: 691-320-4647
Website: http://www.islandfood.org



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This weblog documents the activities of Pacific Agricultural Genetic Resources Network (PAPGREN), along with other information on plant genetic resources (PGR) in the Pacific. The myriad varieties found within cultivated plants are fundamental to the present and future productivity of agriculture. PAPGREN, which is coordinated by the Land Resources Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), helps Pacific countries and territories to conserve their crop genetic diversity sustainably, with technical assistance from the Bioversity International (BI) and support from NZAID and ACIAR. SPC also hosts the Centre of Pacific Crops and Trees (CEPaCT). The CEPaCT maintains regional in vitro collections of crops important to the Pacific and carries out research on tissue culture technology. The CEPaCT Adviser is Dr Mary Taylor (MaryT@spc.int), the CEPaCT Curator is Ms Valerie Tuia (ValerieT@spc.int). 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Box 14 Nuku'alofa Tonga Tel: (676) 23038 Fax: (676) 24271 Email: thaangana@hotmail.com Mr Frazer Bule Lehi Head of Research Department of Agriculture & Rural Development Private Mail Bag 040 Port Vila Vanuatu Tel: (678) 22525 Fax: (678) 25265 Email: flehi@hotmail.com Other links Other CROP agencies Forum Secretariat University of the South Pacific SPREP Pacific biodiversity Biodiversity hotspots Breadfruit Institute Hawaiian native plants Intellectual property rights Nature Conservancy PBIF PestNet SIDS WWF South Pacific Program Other Pacific organizations Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific Micronesian Seminar Te Puna web directory Pacific news Cafe Pacific CocoNET Wireless Island Directory Pacific Islands News Pacific Islands Report Pacific Islands Travel Pacific Time South Pacific travel Time Pacific Interested in GIS? DIVA-GIS	Monday, September 25, 2006 Posted 8:17 PM by Luigi Cyrtosperma and other local foods in Pohnpei From Dr Lois Englberger. Here below are recent items shared with Claudia David, V6AH Radio of Pohnpei. They relate to the rich mineral content of giant swamp taro, or mwahng (Cyrtosperma) and the LET’S GO LOCAL CLUB activities. Claudia has shared with me that the items were broadcast last week according to their regular news broadcasts, at 12 noon, 3 pm and 7 pm, in English and Pohnpeian. An exciting thing about the Let’s Go Local Club item is that the students themselves were involved in writing their news item. Thank you to Marvin Obispo and his group! Perhaps some of you here on Pohnpei have heard these items on the radio!! We look forward to comments and hope that this may be a way of broadening our target audience and promoting healthy and tasty local island foods! Thank you again Claudia and also to Marvin and all the Let’s Go Local Club members! Lois NEWS ITEMS Sept 18: Recent studies on giant swamp taro (or mwahng) by the Island Food Community of Pohnpei shows that there are a number of varieties rich in the essential minerals iron, zinc, and calcium. This is confirmed by scientific analyses on Pohnpei samples carried out in laboratories in mainland United States and Australia. Iron is needed for building strong blood, zinc is needed for fighting infection, and calcium is needed for strong bones and teeth. Mwahng contains almost 10 times the level of these minerals as compared to rice, the common imported food. Mwahng could significantly contribute to an adult’s estimated daily requirements of these minerals along with a consumption of about two cups in the morning and two cups in the evening. September 19: On September 12, 2006, the “Let’s Go Local Club” made up of high school students had their second round of community service work focusing on teaching about the high values of local food. There were a total of 23 students, including 10 new recruits. They first met at the Pohnpei Upward Bound office. A short humorous presentation was made by Miuky Paul, Gidson Santos and Marvin Obispo, for refreshing old members’ memories about the Pohnpei Carotenoid-rich Foods poster and training the new members. After this, the students set off around Kolonia for distributing and teaching about the posters, all wearing their green Let’s Go Local t-shirts. One of the most interesting encounters was that of the group led by Marvin Obispo, explaining the poster to a class of around 20 students at the Lady of Mercy school, as taught by Sister Gloria. She was so interested in the presentation that she invited the students to come back again. The next meeting of the Let’s Go Local Club is on 7 October and new members are also invited. Kalahngan!! Lois Englberger, PhD Island Food Community of Pohnpei P. O. Box 2299 Kolonia, Pohnpei 96941 FM Tel: 691-320-8639 Fax: 691-320-4647 Website: http://www.islandfood.org * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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