Extension in Hawai‘i County was able to qualify for a grant to hire two agricultural technicians from among the many workers displaced by the recent eruptions. The new ag techs will work at Waiakea Station planting and cross-pollinating papaya plants to obtain seeds for commercial growers to start rebuilding the decimated papaya industry on that island.

Rajesh Jha (HNFAS) delivered a keynote speech at the Poultry Nutrition and Health Forum in Beijing focused on “Fermentable Carbohydrates in Poultry Nutrition to Modulate Gut Health.” Fermentable carbohydrates, considered an alternative to antibiotics in poultry feed, are becoming increasingly important as many consumers are looking for chicken raised without antibiotics.

Aurora Saulo (TPSS) was interviewed by CNBC for an article on the recent discovery of the potentially deadly food-borne bacteria Listeria monocytogenes at a United Airlines food-preparation center. Aurora explained that it’s best to immediately shut down a food-production center in which the bacteria is found: “We don't tolerate Listeria because it’s a very mean microorganism.”

Rachel Novotny and co-authors have published the trial main effect paper on the effects of the Children’s Healthy Living (CHL) project. “Effect of the Children’s Healthy Living Program on Young Child Overweight, Obesity, and Acanthosis Nigricans in the US-Affiliated Pacific Region: A Randomized Clinical Trial,” which appeared in JAMA Open Network.

ASAO got into the spirit of the holiday on Halloween, embodying everything from a butterfly to superheroes to a student at Harry Potter’s famous school of magic, Hogwarts. And while they may not be dressed in costume every day, they’re always scary-good at what they do!