top of page
Pacific-Continental Network of Biosecurity Professionals
RECENT EVENTS
Pearl City, Hawaii July 5, 2025
LCC: Summer ELP
Experiential Learning Program
Leeward Community College kicked off their Summer Experiential Learning Program for the year in which students will be introduced to the world of Biosecurity, getting to interact and conduct work dealing with the islands pests and pathogens from Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles, to Pathogen detection and diagnostics, along with learning about plant care practices such as grafting, as well as maintaining soil health, and food safety and market preparation.
Pearl City, Hawaii May 9, 2025
Leeward Campus Cleanup and Graduation
Leeward Community College Students assisted in the end of the year campus cleanup in which they cleared the campuses native plant gardens of weeds and other unwanted plants, learning about some of the issues Hawaii faces in dealing with invasive species and weed pests that farmers deal with and how to properly identify them within a garden space. Along with this, we congratulate 5 members of the Leeward student team in their graduations from the PaCoN program and wish them the best in their future endeavors!
Wahiawa, Hawaii May 2, 2025
Wahiawa Value Added Product Development Center
Leeward Community College Students visited the Wahiawa Value Added Product Development Center to learn about the food safety processes involved in food packaging and handling. Along with learning about how to extend the shelf life of food produce for store shelves, they also got to learn how to extend the shelf life of their food with kim chee and fermentation, creating a stable means of retaining food for consumption.
Honolulu, Hawaii April 4, 2025
CTAHR Symposium
University of Hawaii at Manoa PaCoN Students presented their research at the University of Hawaii CTHAR College Symposium, showing off their work to the rest of CTHAR. This opportunity allowing students to demonstrate their knowledge of the subjects they've been working on, and representing themselves and their research to the scientific community. Congratulations to our students for their successful presentations!
Phoenix, Arizona October 31- November 2, 2024
STEM conference in Phoenix, AZ
Three PaCoN Students from Leeward UH visited the STEM conference in Phoenix Arizona to present their research projects and learn more about the job opportunities in the field of Agrosecurity. During the conference one of our PaCoN students won an award for their presentation! Congratulations to our students for their award and engagement in the scientific community!
Memphis, Tennessee July 27-30, 2024
2024 APS Conference in Memphis
Four Students in the PaCoN Program from UH Manoa, and UH Leeward attended the APS conference in Memphis Tennessee to present their projects and research along with attending seminars on important issues in the field of Biosecurity. Along with networking with both fellow students, Co-Pi's, Steering Committee members, and leaders in the field of agricultural science furthering their future career opportunities.
Three students from the PaCoN program attended the 2024 USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum to learn from industry experts, connect with scholars, and gain insights on the latest trends and innovations in agriculture!
Washington DC, District of Columbia February 15, 2024
NextGen Agricultural Outlook Forum
Pacon Project Kickoff Meeting
Denver, Colorado August 12, 2023
The PaCoN Kickoff Meeting was held on August 12th in Denver, with the Project Director/Co-Directors, members of the Project Steering and Evaluation Committees, and other key personnel in attendance.
Over the course of this day-long meeting, the project execution plan was discussed, developed, and finalized.
July 9, 2023
USDA/NIFA-designated “institutions of higher education to foster the next generation of agricultural professionals” that will receive these mega grants include CTAHR’s Dept. of Plant & Environmental Protection Sciences, which will partner with Oklahoma State University, and Leeward Community College under the stewardship of PI Mohammad Arif.
June 21, 2023
The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced a $262.5 million investment in institutions of higher education to foster the next generation of agricultural professionals across the nation. This program is funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, which aimed to lower costs for American families, expand access to markets and producers, and strengthen American supply chains.
bottom of page