By Andrew Hermann | Executive Director
The Monte Azul Foundation’s Academy of Sustainable Agriculture and Innovation continues to make a meaningful impact on farmers across Puerto Rico. During the spring cohort, our free Agricultural Entrepreneurship 101 course - covering 15 introductory topics in sustainable agriculture and small business development - successfully trained 88 farmers.
In addition, two complimentary workshops were held in February and March, focusing on medicinal plants and value-added production. These sessions reached 62 farmers, bringing the total number of producers served during the first quarter of 2026 to 150 farmers.
At our headquarters in Yabucoa, we continued to enhance our demonstration sustainable farm. Key improvements included the addition of a small flock of egg-laying chickens, the implementation of cover crop rotations to enrich soil fertility in our market garden, and the installation of greenhouse arches with protective plastic over our raised beds. We also expanded our livestock program with the addition of a female dairy goat.
Looking ahead to the next quarter, we plan to complete our community commercial kitchen, which will serve as a hub for value-added production training for local farmers. We will also launch our AgroTours, welcoming members of the public on Saturdays for immersive, educational experiences that showcase the diverse agricultural systems at our Yabucoa site.
Through these initiatives, Monte Azul continues to strengthen local food systems, empower farmers, and promote sustainable agriculture throughout Puerto Rico.
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