#FoodSovereignty4PR

● Food self-sufficiency, NOT dependency!

● Congress must repurpose existing USDA agricultural funds to support food production in Puerto Rico. Use the Farm Bill to include language that’s strictly devoted to local farms and community agricultural programs in Puerto Rico, in a culturally and language-responsive manner. Be an ally: Tag or email your Congress Members asking them to include language in the 2024 Farm Bill that’s strictly devoted to local farms and community agricultural programs in #PuertoRico.

With this approach, Congress would designate the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), a land grant university, as the recipient of discretionary and block grant funds for the territory of Puerto Rico. None of the reprogrammed funds for food sovereignty would come from Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP) or transition to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding.

THE PROBLEM

At one time, Puerto Rico imported 40-50% of its food. Today, it currently imports over 85% of its food supply. By almost exclusively relying on food coming from outside of the island, Puerto Rico’s nutritional system lacks the necessary sustainability to support itself – especially in emergencies. The current USDA programs are not working in Puerto Rico. They are mostly in English and are not reaching small and medium-sized farmers that need focused support.

WHAT’S FOOD SOVEREIGNTY?
It’s a system of mechanisms and policies focused on healthy, sustainable, culturally appropriate, and people-powered methods of food production and distribution. Food sovereignty allows people to shift from dependence on food from overseas corporations to local production and distribution. The lack of a robust local agricultural sector leaves Puerto Rican families vulnerable to food shortages, as was the case after Hurricane Maria.

Under “normal” circumstances, four in 10 Puerto Ricans experience food insecurity. Agroecological farms could produce as much as two-thirds of the food Puerto Ricans consume! Locally produced food also reduces carbon footprints. So supporting small local farmers is more urgent than ever.

A SOLUTION

The 2024 FARM BILL. Puerto Rican advocates, groups, and elected representatives are calling on Congress to repurpose USDA agricultural funding to incentivize local production on the Island through a culturally responsive and language-appropriate food sovereignty program. This would bring aid directly to farmers, community land trusts, the University of Puerto Rico–a land grant institution– and municipalities.

Would this proposal reduce the benefits received under NAP/SNAP?

No. We are seeking to repurpose USDA agricultural funding to incentivize local production on the island. In fact, this should be an essential ingredient in the transition from the currently limited NAP block grant to SNAP. This way, increased nutritional assistance funding could stay on the island if we incentivize local agricultural production through a culturally competent food sovereignty program that would bring aid directly to farmers, community land trusts, the University of Puerto Rico, and municipalities.