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CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOOD SECURITY

Sowing the Future with Women at the Forefront

The Climate Justice and Food Security Fund was formed out of the recognition that the climate crisis and food insecurity disproportionately affect the most marginalized communities of the archipelago. In response, this fund invests in women farmers who are leading the food sustainability movement in Puerto Rico—not only by providing financial resources for their agricultural projects, but also through technical and organizational support that strengthens their leadership and their associations.

Our vision is clear: to build a country where the right to healthy and accessible food is guaranteed for all people, and where agricultural work is valued as a tool for climate justice, economic sustainability, and community well-being.

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We Invest in Vieques and Culebra Because We Believe in Territorial Justice

The Fund recognizes that Vieques and Culebra face unique challenges in accessing food, transportation, and basic infrastructure due to their geographic location, their history of displacement and militarization, and the longstanding neglect of public policy. Investing in these island-municipalities is an act of territorial justice: we support women-led initiatives that cultivate the land to feed their communities, preserve agroecological practices, and build autonomy in island contexts particularly vulnerable to climate change.

These investments not only address urgent needs, but also sow possibilities for the future rooted in ancestral knowledge, community power, and deep ties to the land.

Women Agripreneurs Leading Food Sovereignty

Through this fund, we have supported associations of women agripreneurs who promote organic and sustainable agricultural practices. Beyond crops, these women cultivate networks of collaboration, knowledge, values of care, and community resilience.

Many have gone from tending small family gardens to leading cooperatives, farmers’ markets, and popular education spaces on nutrition, food sovereignty, and post-disaster recovery. Our commitment is to accompany them in that transition: from invisible labor to recognized leadership.

Why Is Strengthening Local Food Production in Puerto Rico Crucial?

Puerto Rico imports between 85% and 90% of the food it consumes. This extreme dependency puts the country’s food security at risk, especially during crises such as hurricanes, pandemics, or supply chain disruptions. After Hurricanes Irma and María, and more recently during the COVID-19 pandemic, it became clear that the current food distribution model is fragile, unjust, and highly vulnerable.

Added to this is the impact of climate change: droughts, floods, rising temperatures, and soil degradation threaten the stability of crops, making access to fresh and healthy food even more difficult.

In this context, supporting women farmers who produce food locally, organically, and collectively is not just a sustainability strategy—it is an act of resistance, justice, and systemic transformation. These women are creating a new way of living with the land and nourishing ourselves, one that honors life, dignity, and the future of our communities.

Grantee Partners from the Climate Justice and Food Security Fund