Regenerative Agriculture & Drone Work In Puerto Rico!

Jan 18

Regenerative agriculture work continues in Puerto Rico!

Director of Agriculture and Sustainability Phal Mantha and Puerto Rico Project Coordinator Ricky Liquet-Gonzalez put in great effort together at the farm intervention sites. Ricky continues advancing healthy growth at these farms as we speak!

We are implementing regenerative agriculture practices with local farms. These methods help farmers work the land in a manageable, site-specific way that increases soil health, productivity, and crop yield. Agroforestry and sustainable agriculture methods not only regenerate the farm productivity that provides healthy food and supports local economies; these practices also support ecosystem health and hold land space for beneficial insects, reptiles, birds, and other wildlife.

Thanks to you - our support network, our farm and project partners, and funder USDA Conservation Innovation Grant!

Challenges & Solutions

The farm intervention areas are growing spaces where presently the farmers are having difficulty growing crops. Examples of some of the challenges include eroded soils, impacted soils, degraded soil microbiome, and too much or too little cover crop coverage. Each site is unique, with individual, specific opportunities and challenges.

Talking to the farmers about their desired outcomes, using scientific assessment techniques, assessing the health, status, and composition of the soils, and employing regenerative agriculture methods, we're working with local farmers to increase the health and productivity of their land.

New Technology

We are also excited to announce we have recently purchased a drone! Aerial views of these landscapes help us be far more specific in site-assessments than satellite-based topography images. This high-resolution and local detail helps us identify the contour lines essential for understanding water movement across the landscape. This helps with planning and design of regenerative agriculture practices. It also allows for amazing site comparison images - stay tuned as these farms grow!