Though there are still a few barriers to work through, Guam has great potential to become agriculturally sustainable, according to Bob Barber, chairman of the University of Guam’s Agricultural and Life Sciences Division and Guam’s sustainable agriculture coordinator at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“We actually have bright prospects. We definitely need to increase the food production,” Barber said. “There are a lot of things we got to do, but at the moment, we’ve very vulnerable.”

He explained the three legs of agriculture: economic stability – the ability to be profitable; environmental sustainability – that no harm will be done to the environment; and social sustainability – the opportunities for families to gain income.

Barber maintained that Guam has an excellent, year-round growing environment. However, Guam faces “enormous” pressure, from invasive species and pests, a lack of organic matter that soils need, and access to land. Moreover, Guam can’t exactly export raw products because of the quarantine law.

He believes Guam needs to increase food production, in terms of commercial growers and even in residents’ backyards, similar to the World War II “victory garden” concept.

School produce should be local

Despite being unsure of whether Guam will ever be completely self-reliant, Barber said the island could be more self-reliant on food, beginning with public schools.

“If we started looking at all government procurement of produce ... if we had some way of ensuring that Guam Department of Education announced what they need six months in advance, so farmers could grow, have a USDA inspector that could certify farms so they meet requirements,” then the produce for public schools could potentially be locally sourced, he suggested.

According to Barber, the island’s first need is to examine the current procurement process with GDOE and Guam Memorial Hospital, as far as what can be done to ensure local produce is being bought.

“That’s the first big step the government can do," he said.

"Individual-wise, all of us should start growing our own gardens.”

Barber also believes in sustainable poultry and pork livestock, as well as an egg farm.

A way for the poor to help themselves

In Barber's experience, he figures that Guam produces about 10 percent of its food at the moment, and he sees backyard gardening as a way for less-fortunate people to help themselves.

“Our poverty levels are very high here. One of the things that have been shown that can help poor people is if they have their own garden, so that they don’t have to spend as much in the stores,” he said.

Barber explained how the island’s sustainable agriculture has grown with the vast amount of people who are working on sustainable agricultural efforts, from new farmers to the Dededo farmers' market.

‘Capture the local market’

“We could gear up, but what I really think we can do is, if we focus on a massive increase of the individual family’s production of food and generating some markets, I truly believe we should capture the local market.”

Barber has been with UOG’s Cooperative Extension Service for 25 years and works on local issues in farm management, personal finance, agricultural marketing, food security, and promotion of local produce use with the USDA.