Sustainable Aquaculture
Aquaponic farms with Fish Farm Collaborative — Fanning & Christmas Island
Health doesn't start in a clinic — it starts with what's on the table. One funded farm grows fresh protein and vegetables year-round on atolls where conventional farming is nearly impossible.
The Need
Much of the disease burden treated on our first medical mission traces back to diet. The fish, taro, and coconut diet that sustained these communities for centuries has been displaced by imported white rice, flour, sugar, and canned meat — cheaper by the calorie, shelf-stable, and nutritionally devastating. The result: nearly 4 in 10 adults with hypertension, roughly 1 in 6 with diabetes, and rampant dental disease.
The Program
We are developing a partnership with Fish Farm Collaborative — an organization born in the fly-fishing community, a natural kindred spirit — to build aquaponic farms on Fanning and Christmas Island. Aquaponics grows fish and vegetables together in a closed-loop system: no soil required, up to 90 percent less water than traditional agriculture, and food production year-round — well suited to atolls where conventional farming is nearly impossible.
Fish Farm Collaborative's model matches ours exactly: partner with trusted local leaders, build alongside the community, train operators, then hand over full ownership so the farm is community-led and self-sustaining. Their track record spans 14 farms across 4 continents, together producing over 100,000 pounds of fish and fresh produce annually and feeding thousands of children each year. An island farm means fresh protein and vegetables grown locally, reduced dependence on outside supply chains, and a direct, upstream attack on the diet-driven disease we now treat downstream — food sovereignty for communities watching foreign fleets harvest their waters.
Pilot Farm Funding
Aquaponic system build & materials (first island farm) — $20,000–$40,000
Pacific freight & logistics — $8,000–$15,000
Build team & local operator training (with Fish Farm Collaborative) — $8,000–$15,000
First-year operations to full community handover — $4,000–$10,000
Total pilot (build, training & handover) — $40,000–$80,000
Support This Program
Co-fund the first island farm — every gift builds toward fresh food grown on the atoll itself.
$15,000 funds the build team and operator training alongside Fish Farm Collaborative.
$80,000 funds the complete pilot — built, trained, and handed over to the community.
Donate Now →All contributions are tax-deductible. To direct your gift to this program, note the program name with your donation or contact us.
Program Updates
The latest from the field. Check back here as this program grows.
2026 — Partnership in development. Exploratory discussions with Fish Farm Collaborative to schedule the site planning visit.