Instituto para la Investigación y Acción en Agroecología Inc (IALA-PR) in collaboration with COA (Colectiva Oeste Agroecológico) and RAEE (Red de Agricultores Ecológicos del Este) are working to transform the food system in Puerto Rico by creating three strategically located food hubs in the eastern, metropolitan, and west-southwest regions of the island. These hubs will provide critical infrastructure to support small-scale agroecological farmers, enabling them to distribute locally grown, ecologically produced, and culturally relevant food directly to communities. IALA-PR aims to promote food sovereignty, strengthen local economies, and empower farmers with fair pricing and improved market access by facilitating connections and reducing food waste through better distribution channels. These hubs will also serve as community spaces for education on solidarity economies and ecological food production, helping to restore a regional mindset towards food consumption. This project addresses food insecurity and seeks to heal the historical relationship Puerto Ricans have with food, reinforcing the importance of local and sustainable food systems for future generations.
