Client: Guam Farmer’s Co-Operative
Service: Public Opinion & Community Research
Sector: Government
The Challenge
Guam’s agriculture sector operates within a market shaped by limited land and resources, high operating costs, competition from imported food, and the challenges of producing at scale on a small island.
Understanding how to strengthen the sector required more than identifying these challenges from the outside. The persepectives of the farmers, agricultural stakeholders, and the industry leaders working within the sector needed to be part of the discussion.
The Guam Farmers Co-Operative needed a clearer understanding of the challenges facing the local agricultural community, the opportunities farmers saw for the future growth, and the resources and support that could help strengthen the industry.
The Approach
MR&D conducted a qualitative research and stakeholder engagement study designed to bring the experiences and perspectives of Guam’s agricultural community into the planning process.
The research gathered input from farmers and industry leaders to better understand the conditions affecting agricultural production and the future outlook of the sector.
Rather than relying solely on secondary information or broad assumptions about the industry, MR&D used direct stakeholder engagement to identify the issues, needs, and opportunities raised by those working within Guam agriculture.
The process provided a structured way to capture perspectives from the agricultural community and organize those insights around the decisions facing teh Co-Operative and the broader industry.
The Outcome
The study provided the Guam Farmers Co-Operative with a clearer picture of the challenges and opportunities identified by farmers and agricultural stakeholders.
The findings created an evidence base that could help inform policy recommendations, guide decisions about resource allocation, and support development strategies for Guam’s agricultural sector.
Just as importantly, the engagement brought the perspectives of those directly involved in agriculture into discussions about the industry’s future.
By documenting those perspectives in a structured research process, MR&D helped establish a stronger foundation for identifying priorities and considering how organizations, policymakers, and industry stakeholders could better support the continued development of local agriculture.