Structures of Sustainability: A Regenerative Model for Community Agriculture Development

Project Overview

LS00-111
Project Type: Research and Education
Funds awarded in 2000: $19,678.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2001
Region: Southern
State: Puerto Rico
Principal Investigator:
Vivian Carro-Figueroa
University of Puerto Rico Agric. Experiment Sta.

Annual Reports

Commodities

Not commodity specific

Practices

  • Education and Training: participatory research
  • Sustainable Communities: public participation

    Abstract:

    The overall objective of this planning project was to design a study that would implement and test a community-based partnership model designed to enhance “structures of sustainability” for local farmers and other community stakeholders. In pursuing this objective we convened a community advisory group within the central Puerto Rican community of Barranquitas, assessed the structural problems facing local agriculture, prepared a food system profile of the community, and held three outreach events, one each focused on the general public, farmers, and youth. The culmination of the project is the preparation of a final research design and a formal proposal.

    Project objectives:

    1. Convene a community working group in Barranquitas, PR.

      Conduct a Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) of the structural problems facing sustainable agriculture in Barranquitas.

      Identify potential partner communities in the Caribbean or in the U.S. mainland south.

      Identify meaningful criteria for evaluating the impact of community-based interventions on both farm and community levels.

      Hold five educational events to share the results of the PRA and solicit feedback.

      Design a multidisciplinary research proposal to implement and test the community- based model for enhancing “structures of sustainability” in agriculture.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.