ISABELA, PUERTO RICO –– “Do you know if there’s a place in Puerto Rico that sells local Caribbean seeds?” my friend Olivia Walton texted me one morning in March.
Olivia is an environmental educator at the Santa Cruz Environmental Association on the neighboring island. Among other projects, she leads a summer camp that teaches young people about environmental justice. She told me she wanted to start a garden, but couldn't find any seeds. There, like in Puerto Rico, much of the food and inputs for agricultural production, including seeds, are imported.
I shared with her the Desde Mi Huerto website in Isabela, a company that produces over 100 varieties of botanical and agricultural seeds adapted to our Caribbean climate. The organization is known in Puerto Rico for its seed bank, which safeguards and preserves crops from our region. A few days later, Olivia excitedly sent me a photo of the package she received from Desde Mi Huerto containing various seeds produced in Puerto Rico.
I told this story to Raúl Rosado, an agroecological farmer and co-founder of Desde Mi Huerto , on a sunny Wednesday afternoon in June. We were on the ten-acre farm where they produce most of their seeds. It's five minutes from the restored school where the store and seed bank, a facility capable of maintaining and preserving seeds, are located.
For Rosado, the tradition of caring for local seeds is an important legacy. What began as a garden on the roof of his parents' house twenty years ago has grown into a Puerto Rican company dedicated to the adaptation, care, propagation, packaging, distribution, and sale of organic seeds certified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
It is also a notable model of agroecology in Puerto Rico. Worldwide, the agroecological movement, led by small farmers and peasants, has promoted small-scale food production models based on cooperative and local agriculture. The movement presents itself as an alternative to multinational corporations that control food and seed production. Proponents of agroecology argue that responsible seed management protects biodiversity while ensuring that communities have control over their food systems.
In the case of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, how can this influence, which is critical for food sovereignty, be fostered? One possible answer is the development of seed banks at different scales.
Desde Mi Huerto serves as an example of what is possible here, as they not only sell and process seeds adapted to our soil and climate, but they also preserve the tradition of safeguarding and sharing seeds.
“Without seeds there is no food,” Rosado said when speaking about this work.
Seed shortages contribute to food insecurity in Puerto Rico
It wasn't always this way. In the months following Hurricane Maria in 2017, the lack of seeds and agricultural materials was one of the main obstacles cited by the agricultural sector in the process of recovering their farms.
“We import most of our vegetable, grain, and legume seeds. They fulfill a basic function, but they aren't necessarily optimal for our conditions,” replied Salvador Coleman, agroecology coordinator for Para La Naturaleza, an organization that promotes, advocates, and works for environmental conservation in Puerto Rico.
In 2022, farmers spent over $15 million on seeds, trees, and cuttings, according to the Agricultural Census , but the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture does not have data available on how many of the seeds purchased by farmers are imported or locally produced. The only information available in the census refers to the production of some seeds, which are mostly genetically modified or experimental hybrid seeds intended for export, and which receive significant government incentives.
Added to this are other social, economic, and political obstacles that together make farming difficult in Puerto Rico. According to the most recent agricultural census, most farmers are over 60 years old and most have an annual income of less than $20,000. Furthermore, they are exposed to occupational health challenges due to their outdoor work. Farm work can be arduous. Not having access to seeds adds to the difficulty of sustaining agricultural production.
Rosado said that many farmers come to Desde Mi Huerto frustrated by the difficulty they sometimes have in obtaining seeds. Until recently, the most accessible seed bank was that of the Agricultural Experiment Station (EEA) at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR).
“There are no seeds there anymore... Maybe they have them at some point, but it's very little,” Rosado commented. The EEA is part of the University of Mayagüez Campus (RUM), which has led agricultural science research in the country for more than 110 years. And together with the EEA, the Agricultural Extension Service has been key in supporting agriculture by disseminating scientific knowledge throughout the archipelago.
The Select Seed program was originally created in 1945 to provide seeds for gardens. In 2020, the program was relaunched, including online sales, as previously it was necessary to go to the stations to find out about availability and prices. It is a commercial program, intended to generate revenue for the EEA, which has received a $19 million budget cut, according to outgoing EEA Associate Dean Lucas Avilés. Although the EEA's role is "to conduct the research necessary for agricultural development [and] supplying seeds is not part of our mission," it has been and continues to be an important player in the availability of local seeds.
Avilés explained that the local Department of Agriculture had a program in the 1980s for which it contracted the EEA as a seed producer. That program was closed in the 2000s, and today it primarily produces coffee through private nursery growers. However, the EEA maintains a collaborative agreement to produce some of the seeds.
The University's seed bank has nearly 30 varieties of crops important to local agriculture. "We continue to produce because we know there's a gap... We're going to grow in that direction, in terms of producing seeds for the market," explained Avilés. However, given the significant cuts, they don't have sufficient resources to meet demand. Furthermore, much of the genetic material produced by the University, including seeds, is held in banks owned by the United States Department of Agriculture.
“There are some pineapple varieties that were developed at a given time [by the EEA], for which we don't have any seeds. When needed, we would go to the pineapple germplasm bank to request those crops that were deposited there. And that happens with many of the varieties that have been developed at the station,” he commented. This difficulty in maintaining genetic material in Puerto Rico occurs in a context of constant cuts to the EEA budget. The state has disinvested in the University, as a consequence of austerity measures and the imposition of a fiscal control board in Puerto Rico.
“Puerto Rico has significant technical knowledge—such as that historically developed at the EEA—but it has not been allowed to fulfill its strategic role. Today, we face its dismantling,” Coleman denounced. He immediately emphasized that political will and vision are necessary to place seed production at the center of any agricultural development project. “Thinking about the future of agriculture in Puerto Rico requires starting with the seed. And that means directing significant resources in this direction, beginning with restoring the collections and capabilities within the Experimental Stations,” he continued.
Seed banks as a tool for cultivating and harvesting food sovereignty
Agroecological farmers—who balance human and natural benefits while upholding principles of social and environmental justice—promote the expansion and support of community initiatives such as solidarity brigades, support networks, and knowledge and seed exchanges.
“The seed is in the hands of the people, and that's the important part. If people value the seed and preserve it, then the seed will continue to thrive,” Rosado told me as we walked around the property, discussing “seed sovereignty,” or the right of people to preserve and determine the use of seeds.
The Ponce native began planting and propagating plants on the roof of his family's house at age 23. From there, he went on to work as a half-rope farmer in Patillas. Over the years, he noticed a constant exchange of seeds between farmers and non-farmers, between those who planted in their yards and those on commercial farms, a historical practice that has preserved local production. "That's when we realized, wow, wait a minute, this has other repercussions... We have to take care of this seed; propagate it," he told me while serving lunch with harvests from the farm.
In a shade house, part of the team was harvesting seeds. Nearly 75% of the 120 varieties sold and stored in the seed bank are produced on that farm. Although they sell packets of more than a pound, depending on the crop and availability, much of the seed is sold in small packets for use in gardens and small-scale production. The other portion comes from farms in the region that collaborate with Desde Mi Huerto. This reflects the ongoing exchange that takes place on our islands.
The right of peoples to food and to influence the functioning of their agri-food systems includes the aspect of seed production and distribution. This guides part of Desde Mi Huerto's work. But seed production is another type of production for which many farmers lack the time, financial, or technical resources. For example, perhaps on a large farm, part of the land could be set aside and dedicated to seed production, but not all farms can. Therefore, efforts have been directed toward increasing the capacity of smaller-scale and agroecological production to address such challenges.
Grants and external support as catalysts
Mi Huerto has been able to access grants that have helped them achieve a "resilient" seed bank, meaning one that is composed of an infrastructure capable of withstanding the effects of the weather and being able to supply its own energy through the sun. In collaboration with the Puerto Rico Food Bank and Feeding America , Para La Naturaleza provided funds to support this resilience. "Their work must continue and be replicated, but achieving this requires both the public and private sectors to recognize that this type of initiative requires sustained support, including subsidies," Coleman told me about this collaboration.
The subsidies and workshops they offer have helped diversify income and keep seed prices affordable. In addition to selling seeds online, Desde Mi Huerto also sells seeds in agricultural centers, hardware stores, supermarkets, and grocery stores, at prices between $2 and $5, depending on the type of seed.
As we carried our lunch dishes to the sink and the 2:00 p.m. breeze motivated us to grab a cup of coffee, Rosado emphasized the importance of combining public, private, and academic efforts to achieve better connections that reduce the fragmentation that exists in Puerto Rico and allow seeds to remain open to the public. "I don't own any of the seeds I work with; I simply take care of them and propagate them." This reflects the agroecological commitment that the seed is not a mere product or object whose sole purpose is to generate economic profit.
Rosado told me that after coffee, he had to return to the store to finish some things and punch at four. Today, unlike when he was starting out, he's made peace with the fact that he deserves to rest and have his free time. The funds they received through the aforementioned collaboration have helped them purchase agricultural machinery to make their production more efficient, following agroecological principles. But more importantly, to safeguard their quality of life.
“It's not about buying machines for the sake of buying machines, but about getting work done faster and having time to go to the movies with the kids, to go to the beach... to spend time with the family. One of the things I told people is that, thanks to that help, we didn't have to take out a loan on equipment... so we can keep the price of the seed low,” he said.
Following Hurricane Maria, transforming the agri-food system in Puerto Rico has become increasingly important to sustain the population while also enabling a decent life for those working in agriculture and fishing. Organizations such as the Hispanic Federation and World Central Kitchen have shown interest in supporting efforts in these sectors. But the grant application process is often burdensome.
The agricultural sector "wants to increase production, but if there's no funding, it's a bit complicated for agriculture to move forward," Rosado said after washing the cup. Furthermore, funding requests take time and require technical support.
Expanding production requires agreements
One Saturday in July, before finishing this article, I attended the Festín en la Tala (Feast in the Tala) , on the farm of the Josco Bravo Agroecological Project in Toa Alta. It's a monthly event to support "the good living of its farmers." It reflects the diversification of activities and income to sustain production. They invite chefs, who are committed to sustainable gastronomy, to cook with the farm's products. As we toured the farm, I asked farmer Ian Pagán Roig if they produce their seeds there.
“We produce as much as we can: corn, sweet peppers, eggplant, some of which don't produce seeds in the tropics. It's a challenge to get seeds [here in Puerto Rico]. [For example] we plant yams. I called all the places where I usually bought seeds; they didn't have any. Everyone told me, 'Oh, buy boxes of seeds from the importers,'” she said. She described how difficult it has been for them to obtain those and others, like the Puerto Rican Soler squash. “We usually have seeds; we reserve our own, but we didn't have much left. I contacted Semilla Selecta, which is a fairly reliable site, since it wasn't available. I contacted Desde mi huerto, and they also have packets of 10 seeds. How can a farmer not get seeds for the Soler squash, which is one of the most common squashes in the country?” Pagán Roig asked, referring to a situation that occurred in May of this year. This exchange left me thinking that current seed banks need more support to expand their capabilities or for more people to replicate these models.
Avilés emphasized how the lack of funding for the University hinders the technical, administrative, and agronomic work required to maintain a seed bank. He also acknowledged that farmers like Pagán Roig cannot find seeds at the EEA because they cannot keep up with demand.
“This is cyclical, and when everyone decides to start planting [a particular crop], the little seed we produce runs out, and we don't have enough seed for everyone who comes at any given time. However, if the farmer requests it in advance and tells us, 'Next year I want to plant 30 cuerdas of solar pumpkins; I need seed,' then we can do the work and produce enough seed for them to plant 30 cuerdas of pumpkins,” he commented.
The professor also shared that Secretary of Agriculture Josué Rivera Castro approached them about reactivating production agreements similar to those in place in the 1980s.
A future where tradition continues without compromising the quality of life
I wonder what our agri-food system would look like if we had the resources to achieve cohesive planning and sustainable seed production.
That June afternoon, before leaving Desde Mi Huerto's farm, I told Rosado that Joshua "Yerbani" Rodríguez, a former student of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) in Utuado, had just started an agroecological project, Finca Semilla. He wants to dedicate himself fully to agriculture—like many of the students graduating from Puerto Rico's only sustainable agriculture program—but faces several financial, technical, and administrative challenges. Yerba, as he is known, is not only producing food for his mountain community and selling it commercially, but is also planning to create a seed bank.
“There is no food sovereignty without freedom to access, manage, and care for seeds,” the young farmer told me when I told him I was writing this article. “Support networks with 'seed guardians'—as I call them—are bridges that lead us toward food sovereignty. Here in Puerto Rico, we need places dedicated to producing and safeguarding seeds. They share land, time, and energy to provide seeds to those who can only dedicate their day-to-day lives to producing food,” he continued.
This is an example of small-scale initiatives that exist across Puerto Rico, and others we may not be aware of. Rosado shared with me that this demonstrates the tradition of safeguarding and exchanging seeds to preserve agricultural diversity, continue to adapt them, and contribute to our agri-food system. "It's part of the history of humanity."
Seeds about to bloom and bear fruit
In August, I followed up with Olivia, who no longer worries as much as she used to about not being able to find Caribbean seeds. “When I discovered I could find seeds not only near me, but also on my sister island, Puerto Rico, I felt this garden would connect me even more deeply to my roots,” she told me in a text. Her crops of okra, watermelon, bean, and other seeds, shipped from Isabela, are about to flower and produce fruit.
Where would she have been able to buy or import seeds for that garden if she hadn't had the option of purchasing them from Desde Mi Huerto? How can we ensure that seed farms exist in Puerto Rico, where farmers are involved in conservation? Philanthropy can support these efforts. The challenge is to ensure that it is applied fairly; that it doesn't undermine the involvement of individuals and that it doesn't foster cycles of dependency and inequality. But the role of government cannot be ignored.
This year, Olivia has shared the agroecological lessons she learned from her grandmother with teenagers participating in the Environmental Changemakers summer camp , which she launched with a grant from the Switzer Foundation . Students visit farms on Santa Cruz and learn about food sovereignty. Children are typically shocked to learn that more than 90% of Santa Cruz's food is imported. "I don't just want to shock these students; I want to work with them to find creative solutions. Seed banks give me—and my students—hope for a more resilient and sustainable future for our island," she emphasized.
Luis Alexis Rodríguez Cruz is a writer, science communicator, and researcher from Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico.
This story is part of the "This Is How We Stayed" series on strategies for staying. Support the upcoming report by purchasing 9M's limited-edition poster in collaboration with artist Garvin Sierra Vega.
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