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News & Announcements » UOG Horizons: Knowledge For Life - A crucial part of Guam’s food security is right underneath our feet

UOG Horizons: Knowledge For Life - A crucial part of Guam’s food security is right underneath our feet

UOG Horizons: Knowledge For Life - A crucial part of Guam’s food security is right underneath our feet

UOG Horizons: Knowledge For Life - A crucial part of Guam’s food security is right underneath our feet


12/5/2025

Photo of Guam soil
Soil in Southern Guam that has experienced significant soil erosion
Photo of Christianah Oladoye
Christianah Oladoye

This Friday is World Soil Day - a day to be reminded about something crucially important to life on our island and around the world but that most of us rarely consider. Soil is a vital living ecosystem capable of sustaining plants, animals and humans, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But in order to carry out these important tasks, soil needs to be healthy - and there are specific things we can do to help it.

Here in Guam, our soil types include highly weathered volcanic soils, shallow limestone and coastal alluvial soil, as identified by a USDA Soil Conservation Service soil survey of Guam. But Guam’s soils carry an inherent challenge: low nutrient status. This threatens our ability to grow nutritious food, maintain clean water and support resilient, sustainable communities, as stated by my predecessor at UOG, Dr. Mohammad Golabi. To keep our lands productive, whether on a commercial farm or a backyard garden, we must take care of soil health and pay attention to nutrient management.

Read more at the Guam Daily Post