UOG Land Grant: A new identity rooted in agriculture and home economics as community resiliency trend grows
UOG Land Grant: A new identity rooted in agriculture and home economics as community resiliency trend grows
UOG Land Grant: A new identity rooted in agriculture and home economics as community resiliency trend grows
7/10/2025
As more people seek locally grown food, practical life skills, and sustainable, self-sufficient living, the University of Guam is making it easier for the public to recognize and access its programs that support these efforts. The name UOG Land Grant will now serve as a unifying identity for UOG’s long-standing agriculture, food, and family and consumer outreach and research initiatives, connecting residents more easily with resources to grow food, live healthily, and build stronger homes and families.
UOG was designated the Land Grant university for Guam in 1972 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with the functions being housed in the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences — now the College of Natural & Applied Sciences. It is part of a national network of universities dedicated to hands-on community education in subjects that are practical for daily life and pursuits.
“The interest in self-sufficiency and community strength in Guam is growing every day. These are skills that everyone needs in every generation,” said Rachael T. Leon Guerrero, dean of the College of Natural & Applied Sciences and director of the UOG Land Grant system. “By unifying our relevant divisions under UOG Land Grant, we can create a stronger association to the land- and life-focused work that we do in a time when people are really seeking it out.”
A logo rooted in agriculture
Along with the updated name, a new logo helps visually connect UOG Land Grant to its
agricultural roots. The logo features a taro plant — one of the earliest cultivated
crops in Guam — symbolizing the growth of knowledge in agriculture, food, and natural
resources. More broadly, it represents the pursuit of practical skills that build
resilience in daily life.
“We are always proud to say that UOG is both a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution. These designations mean that stewardship of our island’s resources — whether on land or in the ocean — and education beyond our classrooms are ingrained in everything we do,” said UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez. “Bringing the UOG Land Grant name to the forefront of our longstanding Land Grant units serves as an important reminder that UOG is here to serve the entire community in ways that are meaningful and relevant.”
The logo sits atop three words: instruction, research, and extension. In Land Grant work funded by USDA, this applies to agriculture, food, natural resources, and family and consumer sciences, however, this mission is mirrored university-wide in UOG’s overall mission of Ina, Deskubre, Setbe (To Enlighten, To Discover, To Serve).
agInnovation: Exploring land-based solutions
Since UOG gained this status from the USDA more than 50 years ago, it has carried out the mandated work through three divisions. These three divisions will remain under the Land Grant umbrella but with new, simplified names.
The Western Pacific Tropical Research Center — originally the Agricultural Experiment Station — is now the UOG agInnovation Research Center, aligning with a nationwide rebranding of Land Grant agricultural experiment stations. With agriculture at the core, national agInnovation research priorities branch out to include sustainable agriculture practices, food science, nutrition and health, environmental stewardship, energy and bioproducts, climate resilience, and youth, family, and community resilience.
The center oversees UOG’s agricultural experiment stations in Yigo, Inalåhan, and Ija as well as the Guam Aquaculture Development & Training Center in Fadian, Triton Farm, and numerous research labs focused on everything from plant diseases and forest restoration to soil health and geospatial technology.
UOG Extension: Extending knowledge island-wide
The division affiliated with the national Cooperative Extension System is now known
as UOG Extension. This unit works directly with residents, “extending” practical knowledge through
workshops, trainings, demonstrations, one-on-one support, and educational materials.
Some of the programs and initiatives that fall under UOG Extension include technical support, workshops, and demonstrations in:
- Gardening, agriculture, and forestry
- Healthy cooking, food safety, and food preservation
- Youth development via 4-H clubs, camps, and K–12 school programs
- Community nutrition education, including SNAP-Ed and EFNEP
- Animal production and processing
- Consumer- and family-focused education
Academic instruction in agriculture and life sciences
A third pillar of the mission is academic instruction toward growing human capacity in the Land Grant priority areas. This will continue under the Division of Agriculture & Life Sciences at CNAS. The division carries out the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture & Life Sciences program and a Master of Science in Sustainable Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources.
A clear path to community resources
Residents will begin seeing the new logo on signage, flyers, and educational materials starting this month as UOG Land Grant continues its work serving the island community.
“Whether it’s helping families grow their own food, supporting farmers in sustainable practices, or guiding youth toward healthy futures, UOG Land Grant remains a trusted resource — one that is now easier to recognize and access than ever before,” Leon Guerrero said.
The program’s resources can be found at www.uog.edu/landgrant, where topics are organized to help residents quickly find educational resources, support services, and upcoming workshops. New materials are added regularly.
Community members can stay up to date on new Land Grant resources and upcoming events by visiting the website, subscribing to the mailing list at https://url.uog.edu/landgrant-subscribe, or following @uoglandgrant on Facebook and Instagram.