CREES News

The latest news from Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Program

In a strategic move to strengthen the Commonwealth’s food system and expand economic opportunities for local farmers,  Northern Marianas College’s Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Services-Agriculture Production program is cultivating seven new sweet potato varieties for eventual commercial distribution in the CNMI.

 Seven scholars from the CNMI let their voices be heard as delegates and facilitators at the National 4-H Conference in Washington D.C which took place from April 11 to 16, 2025. Through workshops and roundtable discussions on topics like mental health, digital literacy and resilience, and workforce development, the students proudly represented the CNMI and shared their islands’ perspective on national issues.

To strengthen local pork production and address ongoing challenges in the industry, Kumoi Farms has received a Farmer/Rancher Grant from the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. This funding will support an innovative research and outreach project aimed at improving swine production across the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

To improve food security and support the growing number of local food producers, Northern Marianas College’s Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Services-Agriculture Production Program is collecting soil samples from the Division of Agriculture’s cultivated and uncultivated farm plots in Kagman.

Mama Food Forest Lite training participant Ainah Chargualaf, left, and family install a food forest at her residence in Kagman. MMFF Lite is a six-session regenerative agroforestry training program hosted by Northern Marianas College – Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Services. It teaches people how to grow and maintain a home food forest. The application period for the next cohort will open soon. Follow Northern Marianas College on Instagram and Facebook (@nmc.proa) to stay up to date on all NMC-CREES updates.