Aeroponic Gardens Nurture Resilience, Peace, and Food Security in the Marshall Islands

Mejatto, Marshall Islands – On the serene island of Mejatto, a promising development is underway. Leafy greens, cucumbers, and cantaloupes cascade from aeroponic towers – their vibrant colours contrasting with the challenges this small island community faces. These solar-powered towers, meticulously overseen by Kirenwit, or "Solar Mama", as other residents of the island call her, embody resilience and ingenuity.

“We have grown more than we can consume,” Kirenwit beams, her pride evident as she describes the bounty these aeroponic systems provide. Suspended roots are misted with nutrient-rich water, a method that eliminates the need for soil and minimizes water use. This is a crucial advantage for Mejatto, where droughts are frequent, and water is a precious commodity.

Installed nearly two years ago by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the UN Peacebuilding Fund, these vertical gardens are offering nutritious options to the island’s 352 residents. Kirenwit is dedicated to maintaining the system, cleaning the equipment, and ensuring the nutrient solution keeps the plants thriving.

Mejatto’s story is one of adaptation. The low-lying island in the Marshall Islands’ Kwajalein Atoll has long contended with flooding, coastal erosion, and the harsh realities of climate change. Traditional crops like breadfruit and taro struggle against the elements and help during emergencies can take up to 10 hours to arrive by ship from the nearest centre.

When drought struck Micronesia in early 2024, affecting 23 atolls, Mejatto faced dry conditions, but the aeroponic towers endured. “You could see the coconut and breadfruit drying out. The banana trees were parched,” Kirenwit recalls. “Still, the towers have kept producing.”

During such times, the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) steps in with critical supplies, including reverse osmosis units to provide safe water and keep the towers operational. These towers not only supply fresh produce but also act as a buffer, sustaining the community until conditions improve.

The roots of Mejatto’s resilience run deep. Its population includes descendants of those evacuated in 1985 due to radioactive contamination in Rongelap Island after a 1954 hydrogen bomb test. Over the decades, they’ve built a close-knit community, reliant on each other and the land for resources.

The introduction of the aeroponic towers aims to contribute to food security and preventing potential conflicts over resources. With 30 towers installed in 2023, the community now enjoys meals featuring greens like bok choy, which, while unfamiliar at first, has become a staple.

Yet, challenges remain. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and rising seas are changing the landscape and stressing traditional and innovative farming alike. Crops like copra are slow to recover after drought, leaving gaps in the livelihoods of islanders who rely heavily on agriculture.

For Mejatto, the aeroponic towers are more than a food source – they’re a symbol of resilience and peace. They show how small, hazard-prone communities can harness innovation to thrive amid adversity. But long-term solutions and broader support are essential to preserve these gains in the face of climate change.

Through their cooperation and resourcefulness, the people of Mejatto embody the spirit of hope. Their story is a testament to how determination can turn challenges into opportunities.

The UN Peacebuilding Fund is a financial instrument of first resort to sustain peace in countries and regions at risk or affected by security challenges, including ones caused by climate change. While climate change does not cause violent conflict in and of itself, it can negatively impact peace and human security through interactions with other social, political and economic factors.

This story was written by Haimanot Abebe, Media and Communications Officer at IOM Micronesia.