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Puerto Rico’s Revitalized Agriculture Sector



Teaching Old Ways to New Minds - What Can We Learn From the Island?

Necessity is the mother of invention, as they say. And, the old adage couldn’t be more true in Puerto Rico. Six years after being battered by hurricane Maria, the Island is still working to rebuild industry, livelihoods, and reliable infrastructure; and a big part of the rebuild has been finding long lasting solutions to agricultural issues.  


A shortage of food and water in the aftermath of hurricanes was a reality check for the island. The necessity for resilient food systems as well as education has brought about innovation that is borrowing from old ways and tapping into new ideas as it recruits the next generation into agriculture. According to USDA reports, Puerto Rico only produces 15% of the food it consumes, placing the nation at high risk for food insecurity in its over dependence on imported goods.


Unfortunately, they are not alone. Though Puerto Rico is a micro environment with its own set of obstacles, they are not the only nation examining dependency on foreign goods and consolidated industries. From the United States to Australia, the world is looking for ways to strategically engage more people in agricultural work. And here, in the lower forty-eight, we’ve had our own reality check with natural disasters and resilient food systems.


The truth is, we need more skilled laborers everywhere. 

Last year, during a panel discussion in the U.S. that included Cargill Ranch, Sandhills Hay Company, Cobalt Cattle, and a Kansas State animal science professor, the topic of skilled laborer shortages was discussed. Reasons for a decreasing labor force were: One, fewer young people believing they could make a career out of skilled agricultural work. Two, laborers ready to work, but without the training to effectively use technology and operate equipment or the specialized skills needed to safely and adequately perform a job. And three, a disconnect between academic and practical education; or the fact that most young people interested in agriculture these days were not raised in it. They are starting from a different place of learning.


In Puerto Rico there has been a general return to the old ways of doing things. Teaching people the process of canning food, education on food safety techniques, and developing conservation and preservation workshops to integrate more people into agricultural supply chains has been an investment in food security and economic stability. But, they are taking stability a step further in a partnership with the USDA and $950,000 Hispanic- Serving Institution Education Grant. The money will fund a four year strategic program that aims to tackle the same labor issues outlined by the panel of U.S. experts. 


Changing the Way We Think About Agriculture and Education

If it is successful it could change the way we approach agricultural education and integrate future generations in economically stable ways. 


In Puerto Rico the grant money will be used to train 110 students how to operate a poultry processing business. From the start it has been offered as not just job training, but a career path.  The hope is that graduating students will be part of building a robust and competitive poultry industry on the island since they will know the ins and outs of the business from raising to processing to butchering.  Ultimately, it should generate a safe domestic food supply and bring the farm closer to the tables of its population. 


Participants will receive both academic training and hands-on experience during the four year course which the school believes will make it more accessible to a wider demographic of people.  In fact, the program hopes to attract both rural and urban students for the sake of ensuring that someday the entire island lives in close proximity to reliable protein sources. It's a strategic partnership between farmers, academics and business leaders investing in the future stability of Puerto Rico.


Can We Mimic the Model?

Does the fact that Puerto Rico is an island make it a perfect scenario to test out such a strategic program? Or, is this the route the United States  needs to go if it aims to recruit another generation into skilled labor?


The problem of fewer skilled laborers has been called a marketing issue. Urban kids don’t know what kinds of careers are available in agriculture because they’ve had little exposure to the world of farming and ranching. Or, they have experience in the college lab, but not out in the field.  Those kids who grew up on the farm might know how to run daily operations at home, but sometimes don’t know how to match a degree with their experience. Or there isn’t an operation to run because family members are working longer and land is hard to access. The result is damaging in the long run; farmers who don’t know business and business people who don’t know Ag. 


Is it possible to market career paths more effectively and build niche specific training so that a decade from now we have a greater number of laborers with specialized skills? The Puerto Rican poultry project is a chance to test the question. With devastating hurricanes and fires here in the States, regionally strong food supply chains and more skilled laborers is a growing necessity. If we don’t find a productive shift now, who will make up the labor force of the future?


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