In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, when disrupted supply chains, devastated farm fields, and empty shelves became the norm, we asked ourselves a crucial question: Is it time to rethink how we source our food?
Feeding ourselves goes beyond the roles of farmers, distributors, chefs, and home kitchens. It requires the seamless integration of a vast network of components, agents, and institutions—forming a complex food system. This system starts with the careful selection and breeding of cultivars and ideally ends with waste products from one part of the system being reused as inputs elsewhere within the same system.
As systems thinkers and technologists, we sought innovative ways to enhance this interconnected system. The following projects are a testament to our commitment to innovation.
Farmers Markets
Growing Puerto Rico is proud to host the Palmas Farmers Market, a vibrant bi-monthly event located in the heart of the Palmas del Mar community in Humacao. This marketplace brings together local farmers and agricultural producers, offering fresh, locally grown produce and handmade goods directly to consumers. It stands as a celebration of community, sustainability, and the rich diversity of Puerto Rico’s agriculture.
The Palmas Farmers Market is a hub for high-quality, locally sourced products, where carefully selected vendors offer only the best in fresh produce and artisan goods. With a strong commitment to supporting local agriculture, the market strictly prohibits mass-produced imports, MLM products, and low-quality food items.
Sustainable Food Production
Our fruits and vegetables are cultivated in hurricane-resilient, eco-smart greenhouses specifically designed for tropical environments. By employing advanced hydroponic methods tailored for these conditions, we ensure continuous, high-quality harvests that withstand climate events and natural disasters. Our approach, using hardened and redundant systems much like computer data centers, allows us to produce consistently, no matter the weather.
Not all crops thrive in hydroponic systems or controlled environments. That’s why we also harness the rich soils of our Ceiba farm, employing clean, regenerative cultivation methods. By growing nutritious produce locally, we reduce our dependence on unhealthy and low-quality imports.
Data, Ag-Tech, and Automation
As Puerto Rico’s farming population ages and retires, the need to produce more with fewer resources becomes critical. While big agribusinesses have already developed advanced technologies in automation, data-driven decision support, and smart farming to increase yield and efficiency, we aim to bring similar innovations to smaller farms at accessible prices. By reimagining agriculture as a knowledge-based, innovative, and rewarding career—rather than back-breaking, monotonous work—we improve the lives of current farmers and inspire the next generation to embrace farming with fresh energy and ideas.
Crop Diversity and Development
Puerto Rico’s rich climate and fertile soils can support a wide variety of crops, yet commercial production often focuses on a limited number of traditional cultivars. Much of our productive land remains uncultivated or used for forage. To diversify, we explore new crop options and reinvent old favorites, aiming to elevate Puerto Rico’s reputation as a global producer for both domestic consumption and export.
Agrivoltaics
Puerto Rico’s abundant sunshine offers more than just plant growth potential. By combining agricultural land with ground-mounted solar systems, we enable the sun and land to serve dual purposes. Thoughtfully installed solar panels can provide partial shade that benefits plants while generating renewable energy. Our agrivoltaic systems power the pumps and fans for our greenhouses and contribute excess power back to the grid, harnessing the full potential of our environment.
Collaboration
Innovation thrives on collaboration. Our projects at Growing PR are not developed in isolation—they are the result of partnerships among entrepreneurs, businesses, researchers, innovators, thought leaders, and dedicated workers both on-island and globally. Together, we are pioneering the future of sustainable agriculture in Puerto Rico.
