A group of University of Guam (UOG) students recently returned from Taiwan with a bounty of fresh ideas to revitalize Guam’s agricultural sector through agritourism. The weeklong study abroad experience in January exposed the students to nearly 20 agritourism operations across Taiwan, showcasing innovative ways farms have integrated tourism elements to boost revenue and sustainability.
Rachael T. Leon Guerrero, dean of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences at UOG, highlighted the trip’s impact. “We saw a truly broad variety of businesses featuring agricultural products, all of which have developed very innovative and eco-conscious ways of generating revenue,” she said. The trip was part of UOG’s third study abroad program to Taiwan since 2022, focusing on agritourism—a burgeoning industry in Taiwan with nearly 500 licensed businesses as of 2020.
Agritourism invites visitors to engage directly with farming activities, such as fruit picking, farm-to-table dining, or product-making workshops. For Guam, this could mean transforming its agricultural landscape by adapting interactive farm tours, immersive cultural activities, and hands-on experiences. Kuan-Ju Chen, UOG Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics and the trip’s leader, believes that models similar to what they saw in Taiwan could be a game-changer for Guam.
Chen cited examples like the pineapple cake DIY activity at an ecological leisure farm in Taiwan, where visitors learn about pineapple cultivation and make their own handmade treats. Such experiences could enhance Guam’s agricultural sector’s appeal to tourists, creating new income streams and employment opportunities, especially in rural areas.
The Taiwan government’s rural revitalization strategy, launched in 2018, addresses challenges like an aging population and rural migration. Chen sees agritourism as a way for Guam to confront similar issues, making farming communities more vibrant and economically sustainable.
For UOG business administration major Keana D. Mesubed, visiting the King Car Biotechnology Aquaculture Science Center was particularly eye-opening. The antibiotic- and chemical-free Pacific white shrimp hatchery uses AI and biotechnology to monitor water quality, improve breeding, and ensure sustainability. Mesubed said the experience gave her a new perspective on modern aquaculture and its role in food security.
The students were exposed to a range of agricultural innovations, including AI-driven aquaculture systems, mobile app-controlled cacao farms, and value-added processing operations. Agriculture major Vivek LeBouef said the experience solidified his desire to research climate-resilient crops and integrated farming systems. He hopes to establish a company on Guam focused on vertical farming techniques and greenhouse construction.
Chen acknowledged the challenges of implementing these technologies in Guam, such as high utility costs and vulnerability to natural disasters. However, he believes that strategic investments and supportive policies could help farmers adopt these technologies, reducing long-term operational costs and enhancing Guam’s overall food security and agricultural resilience.
As part of their coursework, students are now developing comprehensive marketing plans for potential agritourism businesses on Guam. Chen said students in his Agribusiness Management course have come up with several innovative ideas, including agroforestry farms offering diverse tour packages and workshops focused on value-added product creation.
The trip has also influenced how UOG approaches agricultural education. Chen said UOG’s agriculture programs will continue to evolve by blending agriculture, technology, and tourism to reflect emerging industry needs and opportunities. The goal is to prepare students with diverse skill sets in areas such as smart agriculture, agritourism management, and entrepreneurship.
Establishing a robust agritourism industry on Guam will require coordinated efforts across multiple sectors. Chen emphasized the importance of developing supportive agricultural and tourism policies, providing financial incentives, and fostering strong partnerships between the agriculture and tourism sectors. He also highlighted the need for infrastructure improvements, such as transportation access, visitor facilities, and signage.
The recent collaboration between GUMA and DFS to launch the new Maker’s Market provides a model for how such partnerships might work. Chen said similar initiatives could support Guam’s agritourism sector by creating dedicated spaces where local talent and products are showcased, fostering both economic development and cultural pride.
Despite potential financial constraints, Chen remains optimistic about Guam’s agricultural prospects. He said aligning agricultural education, workforce development, and community engagement efforts can maximize the impact of available resources. The Taiwan agritourism study abroad experience was jointly funded by a subaward to UOG from the Northern Marianas College’s NextGen grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and through scholarships from the J. Yang & Family Foundation. It builds on two previous smart agriculture study abroad trips to Taiwan in 2023 and 2024.
Chen remains hopeful about a future that merges Guam’s agricultural and tourism sectors. “With the right policy framework and strategic partnerships in place, Guam has the potential to
