Puerto Rico's Food Sovereignty Fund

Since our last report, we have been collaborating directly with two agricultural projects, working to strengthen local food systems and promote food sovereignty in Puerto Rico. One of these is Huerto Semilla, a community gardenlocated on an occupied plot at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras. Huerto Semilla serves as a learning hub for agroecology, where volunteers—including students, faculty, and local residents—engage in sustainable food production and collective land stewardship. By reclaiming urban land for cultivation, the project challenges Puerto Rico’s reliance on imported food and creates a space where people can reconnect with traditional, regenerative agricultural practices.

A key element of Huerto Semilla’s sustainability is its composting system, which turns organic waste into nutrient-rich soil to support its diverse crops, including yucca, papaya, gandules, and medicinal plants. This practice reduces waste, enhances soil fertility, and promotes circular resource use, making the garden more resilient and self-sustaining. To further optimize and expand this process, we conducted two participatory design workshops to create a dedicated composting area, improving its efficiency and accessibility for the community. In the coming months, we will focus on building the necessary infrastructure to support this initiative.

Additionally, we have been collaborating with La Tiendita CASA in San Lorenzo, an initiative dedicated to reimagining local commerce as a tool for community resilience and economic self-sufficiency. This project is working to revitalize its commercial space, transforming it into a community-centered store where people can connect with locally harvested products, grown by the hands of farmers and producers they know and trust. In a region where small-scale farmers face barriers to market access, La Tiendita CASA provides a direct and ethical connection between producers and consumers, strengthening the local food economy.

As part of this effort, we have been co-designing and co-building the store’s interior, ensuring that the space reflects community values, sustainability, and local resilience. This work goes beyond physical infrastructure—it is about creating a model for alternative economies, where people have greater autonomy over their food systems and purchasing power. By reclaiming spaces for local commerce and sustainable food production, we contribute to reducing Puerto Rico’s dependence on food imports, supporting climate-resilient practices, and fostering a stronger, self-sufficient local food network.

We are deeply grateful for these collaborations and remain committed to supporting food sovereignty in Puerto Rico, fostering spaces that empower communities, strengthen local economies, and promote ecological sustainability. We look forward to continuing this work, expanding our partnerships, and sharing more updates soon!

On August 15, 2024, Hurricane Ernesto struck the island, bringing intense rainfall and powerful winds to several regions and causing widespread agricultural damage. Throughout September, we provided recovery support to farmers within our network who suffered considerable losses on their farms. Reports on substantial crop losses, including pigeon peas and platains that had been carefully cultivated for the holiday season, a vital income period for these farmers. Strong winds uprooted trees, damaged shade structures, and destroyed fruit-bearing plants, while extensive flooding submerged fields, degraded soil quality, and left some crops underwater for prolonged periods.

Beyond crop damage, farmers also faced infrastructure challenges, with essential farming structures such as irrigation systems, shelters, and equipment impacted. The primary sources of damage were high winds, which toppled plants and tore through protective coverings, and flooding, which oversaturated the soil, reducing chances for crop recovery. Our response included financial grants, material assistance, and work brigades, all aimed at helping farmers rebuild, restore their crops, and regain stability after the storm. 

Since Hurricane Fiona in 2022, we have supported 15 food production projects in post-disaster recovery. This funding has also facilitated the implementation of green infrastructure projects in urban areas, bolstering resilience and sustainability in these environments. 

Thanks for supporting the work.