Puerto rico faces serious challenges in preparing the next generation of professionals in agriculture and environmental sciences

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded Sistema Universitario Ana G. Mendez, Incorporado $150,000.00 on September 15, 2025, under the Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants program (CFDA 10.226). The "Science Behind Farming in Puerto Rico" project will operate through September 14, 2028, and addresses workforce shortages in agriculture and environmental sciences by creating an innovative partnership among high schools, NIFA-funded institution Universidad Ana G. Mendez, government agencies, community organizations, and local farmers based in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The project delivers college-level coursework, hands-on experiential learning, and career pathway development for high school students with limited exposure to agricultural and environmental careers. Key deliverables include dual-enrollment college courses with transferable credits, laboratory experiments, farm visits, professional mentoring, and leadership workshops. Community engagement products consist of family orientations, outreach events, and science activities highlighting agriculture's importance. By integrating classroom instruction with practical, community-based experiences, the initiative aims to increase student enrollment in postsecondary agricultural, food, and environmental science programs, thereby strengthening Puerto Rico's workforce capacity to address food security, economic development, and climate resilience challenges.

Many young people have little exposure to farming, food systems, or environmental careers, and this lack of awareness contributes to a shortage of skilled workers in fields that are critical for the island's food security, economy, and resilience to natural disasters. At the same time, many students – particularly those from economically disadvantaged communities – are not enrolling in college science programs at the levels needed to meet these demands. Without new ways to inspire and prepare students for agricultural and environmental careers, puerto rico will struggle to build a workforce capable of addressing issues such as food imports, climate variability, conservation, and sustainable development. The science behind farming in puerto rico project addresses this problem by creating an innovative partnership between local high schools, the universidad ANA G. M & eacute; ndez (UAGM), government agencies, community organizations, and local farmers. Through this partnership, high school students will be given the opportunity to take real college-level courses while still in school, earn credits that count toward their future studies, and gain hands-on experiences that connect classroom learning with real-world agriculture and environmental challenges. Activities will include laboratory experiments, visits to local farms, mentoring by professionals, and workshops that build leadership and teamwork skills. Families and communities will also be engaged through orientations, outreach events, and science activities that highlight the importance of agriculture in daily life.by combining classroom learning with practical, community-based experiences, the project aims to increase the number of students who pursue higher education and careers in agriculture, food, and environmental sciences. Over time, this effort will help build a stronger, more diverse agricultural workforce for puerto rico, contribute to greater food security, and create new opportunities for economic and community development. The ultimate benefit of this project will be a generation of young leaders who not only understand the science behind farming but who are motivated to use that knowledge to improve their communities and ensure a more sustainable future for the island.