Conservation Innovation on Farms, Puerto Rico
Improving Agricultural Production and Soil Health on 30 Puerto Rican Farms
Through the Implementation of Enhanced Management Practices and Facilitated Peer to Peer Exchanges
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Innovation Grant Project
Drone imagery of farm restoration
Project Summary
A coalition of organizations from academia, public, private, and non-governmental sectors in Puerto Rico are brought together in this project to implement regenerative agriculture techniques specific to succeed in Puerto Rico. The project implementation assists farmers on 30 farms in Puerto Rico implementing Regenerative Production Systems. These systems include crop diversification, use of nitrogen fixing cover crops, green manure species, reduced tillage regimes, and developing capacity for on-farm production of agronomic inputs. Integrating regenerative practices into existing production models rapidly builds soil health, diversifies producer income, and improves production efficiencies. Building propagation and resilience hubs supports agronomic independence. Regenerative agriculture builds food security and climate resilience in Puerto Rico.
Problem
Agriculture in Puerto Rico is heavily dependent upon imported production inputs. Events such as recent major hurricanes reveal the fragility of the present food systems and the agricultural production in Puerto Rico.
Solution
Local farmers have resolved to develop more resilient systems of food production. Bringing together a highly experienced coalition of organizations in Puerto Rico will support trial and implementation of improved production systems utilizing Enhanced Management Practices.
Implementation
Over the course of the 36 month project period, the project team is working closely with 30 participating producers throughout Puerto Rico. Participating farms are implementing, trialing, documenting, and disseminating improvements to existing production systems utilizing an integrated management approach.
Outcomes
Through comprehensive evaluation, we are accurately monitoring and recording the environmental, agronomic, economic, and social impacts that result from the implementation of the Regenerative Production System. This advance is critical for building food security in Puerto Rico.
