Comité de Agricultura Sustentable del Colegio de Ciencias Agrícolas

G OAL 2.............................................................................................................................. .................................16 G OAL 3..............................................................................................................................


.................................16 SCHEDULE AND BUDGET............................................................................................................ ..................18 S CHEDULE ............................................................................................................................... ............................18 BUDGET ...............................................................................................................................


................................18 BIBLIOGRAPHY................................................................................................................... .............................20 1 S TRATEGIC P LAN TO F OSTER S USTAINABLE A GRICULTURE IN P UERTO R ICO College of Agricultural Sciences (CCA) M AYAGÜEZ C AMPUS U NIVERSITY OF P UERTO R ICO M M e e m m b b e e r r s s o o f f t t h h e e S S u u s s t t a a i i n n a a b b l l e e A A g g r r i i c c u u l l t t u u r r e e C C o o m m m m i i t t t t e e e e 1. Dr.


Hipólito O'Farrill (Leader), Associate Extension Specialist in Entomology 2. Dr. José Huerta, Associate Extension Specialist in Evaluation 3.


Dr. James Beaver, Professor of Agronomy 4. Dr.


Angel L. González, Associate Professor of Entomology 5. Prof.


Melvin Irizarry, Associate Extension Specialist in Horticulture 6. Prof. Luis Mejía, Assistant Extension Specialist in Agricultural Economics 7.


Prof. Miguel Monroig, Extension Specialist in Coffee 8. Prof.


Carlos Nazario, Extension Specialist in Poultry 9. Emilia Viqueira-Keller, Graduate Student in Planning 2 S TRATEGIC P LAN TO F OSTER S USTAINABLE A GRICULTURE IN P UERTO R ICO C OLLEGE OF A GRICULTURAL S CIENCES (CCA) M AYAGÜEZ C AMPUS U NIVERSITY OF P UERTO R ICO I NTRODUCTION The College of Agricultural Sciences (CCA) of the University of Puerto Rico is committed to taking an active role in encouraging the development of sustainable agriculture in Puerto Rico. With this purpose in mind, the Dean and Director of the CCA organized a committee composed of researchers, extensionists, and professors to develop an effective strategic plan.


The committee was named the Sustainable Agriculture Committee of the College of Agricultural Sciences (CASCCA) . The nature of agricultural production is complex and requires an ample understanding of the many types of relationships that farmers have with consumers, crops, animals, soils, pests, climate, technology, production costs, marketing, public policies, farm infrastructure, and local ecosystems. To take care of the needs of farmers and consumers efficiently and to safeguard agricultural land for the use of future generations, the CCA has set as its immediate goal the development of a strategic plan to encourage sustainable agriculture in Puerto Rico.


This plan will help to coordinate relevant agricultural research and development, education, and the disclosure of information for the implementation of sustainable agriculture practices. The purpose of this plan is to facilitate the dissemination of information and create the mechanisms to make responsible decisions related to sustainable agriculture within the island 9s complex social-economic-political-environmental-technical framework. By creating this plan, the CCA recognizes that changes must be made in the performance, management, and implementation of current agricultural practices that will promote sustainability.


The CASCCA has adopted from the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990, Section 1603, the official United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) definition of sustainable agriculture. It is defined as "an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will, over the long term: 3 " satisfy human food needs; 7 " enhance environmental quality and the natural resources base upon which the agricultural economy depends; " make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls; " sustain the economic viability of farm operations; and " enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole d It should be pointed out that the stated proposal is a pragmatic plan to develop a sustainable agriculture initiative within the CCA. It does not pretend to be an overall plan for the agricultural development of Puerto Rico.


The Strategic Plan to Foster Sustainable Agriculture in Puerto Rico should not be mistaken for the comprehensive Strategic Plan of the College of Agricultural Sciences. Nevertheless, its intentions are complementary to those of the Strategic Plan of the CCA, as it contributes specific strategies that are related to the sustainable agriculture initiative. This plan should be adopted as a working agenda for the next five years but without imposing limits on the academic personnel 9s creativity and imagination.


It is of vital importance that the CCA achieve the acceptance and recognition among farmers, professors, students, government officials, and society as a whole of the social, nutritional, environmental, and economic benefits that can be derived from the implementation of a sustainable agriculture program for Puerto Rico. S COPE OF THE S TRATEGIC P LAN This plan is directed at: " farmers and farm workers of Puerto Rico 3 to enable them to improve their standard of living and working conditions; " agriculture professionals 3 to gain support for a program of sustainable agriculture information flow and exchange; " all of the agricultural sector 3 to develop environmentally friendly, economically viable, and sustainable agricultural systems; " students 3 to offer learning opportunities (at the university and high school levels) focused on sustainable agriculture; 7 The definition of sustainable agriculture as stated in the Federal Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 includes csatisfy human food and fiber needs. d However, to adapt the definition to Puerto Rico 9s characteristics the element of cfiber needs d was eliminated because there is no production of textile fibers in Puerto Rico.


4 " consumers and society as a whole 3 to encourage the production of nutritious fruits, vegetables, grains, and other food items to satisfy most of the local demand; and " the environment 3 to conserve and improve the quality of the environment and preserve the natural resources. This plan consists of the following elements: mission, vision, and goals; justification; process to create the strategic plan; challenges, strengths, and opportunities; time span and evaluation; goals, objectives, and strategies; and schedule and budget. M ISSION The mission of the College of Agricultural Sciences in the field of sustainable agriculture is to coordinate all efforts that are being or will be made to encourage the education, research and development, and the disclosure of information for the implementation of a sustainable agriculture in Puerto Rico.


V ISION The College of Agricultural Sciences is an entity which generates and provides information and knowledge about sustainable agriculture through its connections with farmers , agricultural workers, researchers, extensionists, professors, students, consumers, government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and society as a whole. G OALS 1. To increase the understanding, knowledge, and acceptance of the sustainable agriculture concept among agricultural professionals, farmers, university and lower level students, and society as a whole.


2. To support a permanent educational program in order to spread knowledge among Puerto Rico 9s population about the importance and benefits of agriculture to them. 3.


To strengthen the research and extension programs focused on the generation and dissemination of information and technology needed for the sustainable development and utilization of farmland, hydroponics, home fruit and vegetable gardens, urban land for agricultural production, plant nurseries, and forests in Puerto Rico. 5 J USTIFICATION During the 1950s, the Government of Puerto Rico began a vigorous and successful development of the industrial, tourism, and construction sectors of its economy. The best human and capital resources were employed; and, in only three decades, the economic base of Puerto Rico became industrial rather than agricultural.


However, contrary to other industrialized countries, Puerto Rico did not upgrade and modernize its agricultural sector during this time. 5-22 Even though during the last 15 years the agricultural sector has improved and updated its technology, and production has slowly but consistently increased in some crop enterprises, its gross income is still far below that of other economic sectors. 24 According to the Informe Económico al Gobernador, 1998 , 18 ( The Governor 9s Economic Report, 1998 ), agricultural production represented only 0.75% of the gross internal product.


Approximately 70% of the food consumed in Puerto Rico is still imported. As in the United States, Puerto Rico lives under the constant pressure of urban and industrial development. The reduction of the quantity of land available for agricultural use is a consequence of the continual construction of highways, horizontal low-density housing facilities, and industrial and commercial complexes.


The rate of loss of land suitable for agricultural use is disproportionate for such a small, densely populated country. 7 According to the 1997 soil inventory of the U. S.


Department of Agriculture (USDA), from 1982 to 1992 the United States lost 1.4 million acres per year of both agricultural land and open areas. However, from 1992 to 1997, the loss increased to 3.2 million acres per year, which is more than double what it had previously lost per year. Puerto Rico observed a similar pattern for the same periods.


From 1982 to 1992, approximately 12,460 acres per year were lost and, from 1992 to 1997, 30,620 acres per year. Statistics from the National Resources Inventory of the USDA indicate that, from 1982 to 1999, Puerto Rico lost more agricultural land an