Sustaining the Unsustainable: Pathways to Resilience in Guam's Food System

 


Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 4:15pm
Woods Rm 2101W or via Zoom
Hosted by PASA (the Practicing Anthropology Student Association at UMD)
Light snacks and tea available for attendees.

ABSTRACT:
Guam, like many small islands, faces significant challenges in achieving food security due to its heavy reliance on imports. As a U.S. territory, this small island has a complex relationship with global supply chains and maintains a significant geopolitical role. In this talk, we will explore how historic cultural, economic, political, and environmental changes have limited the island's capacity for self-sustaining food security. By analyzing its current adaptive capacity, we will identify potential pathways for building a more resilient and sustainable food future for the island community.

BIO: 
Dr. L. Jen Shaffer is an ecological anthropologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Maryland College Park. During her recent sabbatical, she worked as an agent for the University of Guam’s Land Grant Extension, where she conducted research with farmers to understand their motivations and challenges in producing food for the local island community. Shaffer also contributed to the exploration of agritourism opportunities on Guam and research on broader issues of island food system resilience.

This is a hybrid talk -- if you cannot attend in person, please join us through this Zoom link: 
https://umd.zoom.us/j/99964343532?pwdwcp2zzHclKMdS7SQBzXxU0GHrPa38t.1

Meeting ID: 999 6434 3532
Passcode: 316500