The Homegrown Collective hosted Cultivate: The Island Elevation on July 12 at the Hotel Nikko. The event featured a free afternoon symposium and vendor marketplace, followed by a ticketed evening of live music, giveaways and performances by popular artists. At the symposium, an expert shared how aquaponics could offer sustainable solutions to some of the island's biggest challenges - even for cannabis cultivation.
David Crisostomo, an aquaculture specialist with the University of Guam's Sea Grant program, explained how backyard aquaponics programs have already helped island residents improve food security. The latest training cohort, now in its third day, has drawn about 50 eager participants.
He noted that Guam relies on imports for 80% to 90% of its food, leaving the island vulnerable to disruptions from storms, pandemics and geopolitical tensions. Older generations, he said, still remember when Guam was far more self-reliant during World War II.
"We launched the aquaponics program to help the island become more food secure - because we import 80% to 90% of what we eat, and we've all seen how fragile that makes us during storms, COVID and other disruptions," he said. Crisostomo detailed how the program has evolved, starting in 2021 with fish-only recirculating aquaculture systems, then adding plants to create integrated aquaponics. Designs now include vertical A-frame systems using the nutrient film technique, or NFT, and compact "Condo-ponics" units for apartments and small spaces.
Read more at The Guam Daily Post