The document discusses the history and development of food production and distribution in Puerto Rico from the pre-Columbian era to present day. It analyzes the challenges and opportunities for achieving a sustainable food system in Puerto Rico. Some of the key challenges include high production costs, lack of industry integration, and insufficient entrepreneurial culture. Overcoming these challenges will require promoting entrepreneurship through supporting elements like leadership, access to capital and networks, and an innovative mindset.

1. Behavioral Economics
*
Food Production and Distribution
from an Island Perspective

2. [T]aíno were agricultural
people…cassava, squash, sweet potatoes and other
tubers, such as yautía…maize, beans…[they] grew
their root crops in artificial mounds of loose earth
called conucos…mamey, papaya and
pineapples…achiote, tobacco and
cotton…supplemented diet by hunting and fishing
(turtles, manatees, fish, birds, oysters)– An
Pre Columbian Introduction to Taino Culture and History, Ricardo
Period: Alegría
Arawak
People, Island
Hopped from
Venezuela to the
Northern Caribbean
basin and brought
cultigens from
northern South
America and other
Mesoamerican
people.
Researchers
indicate there is “…[T]aíno needed to increase agricultural production
evidence of limited
commerce to the
in order to support a large population on a limited
mainland and the amount of land”

3. Spanish Conquistadors brought large animal, fruits
(citrus, and vegetables known to Europeans. Early
on, along with the slave trade, bananas and
plantains, ginger, okra and other products known to Africa
were also brought to Puerto Rico. Later on
coffee, cacao, sugarcane and spices were introduced to
the Island. Turtles, Queen Conch and other seafood were
exploited for local sustainability.
Colonization
Period:
As new
cultivars and
domesticated
animals were
brought into
Puerto
Rico, trade
with Europe
increased as
sugar, coffee,
cacao and
tobacco were
shipped to
Spain and its
Territories.

4. In the early 1900’s new breeds of cattle and plants were
introduced by the US military. Food Technology Research
had a strong part in the 1940’s and 50’s. Massive projects
of Irrigation and drainage canals were built increasing total
arable land. Several Hurricanes devastated plantations.
Advent of Refrigeration allowed for perishables to move
across the Atlantic Ocean.
US Occupation:
New technology
and investment
allowed for an
increased trade
with the
northeast US.
Sugarcane and
Tobacco
dominated.
Coffee was still
exported to
Europe. High
production
allowed to
satisfy local
demand.

5. At present time, it is estimated that 80% of all food consumed
in PR comes from elsewhere. Agriculture and food processing
have not kept pace with population growth at home nor
abroad. In the 1950’s Puerto Rico departed from an agrarian
based economy to a manufacturing based one. Population
moved from Rural areas to the San Juan Metro Area looking for
better opportunities.
PR Today:
3.7 Million People
2.1 Million Acres
8% arable land
4% permanent crops
7.2% val. added mfg.
60% pop. on SNAP
Even though great
advances in
technology and
infrastructure have
taken place, exports
from Puerto Rico
have fallen
dramatically.
Mangoes and finished
foods are exported.

6. * “an integrated system of plant and animal
production practices having a site-specific
application that will, over the long term, satisfy
human food and fiber needs; enhance
environmental quality and the natural resource
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.” Public Law
101-624, Title XVI, Subtitle A, Section 1683 (1990)
[Emphasis added]
*

7. * USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
3 pillars:
* Profit over the long term;
* Stewardship of our nation’s land, air and water and;
* Quality of life for farmers, ranchers and their
communities.
* American Planning Association’s Sustainable Food
Systems:
* relationships between sectors (from production to
waste disposal) and characteristics (health-
promoting, sustainable, resilient, diverse, fair, econom
ically balanced, and transparent) of the system.
*

8. * Challenges pursuing sustainable agriculture in Puerto
Rico:
* High costs of production
(labor, environmental, energy);
* No vertical integration of the food cluster (lack of
trust among players, inadequate government
intervention);
* Lack of conservationist and entrepreneurial culture
(isolationism, subsidy dependency, complex
management).
* The benefits, both here and elsewhere, are
unquestionable although a unique recipe needs to be
adopted case by case.
*

9. * In order to achieve a sustainable food system, the
first building block to overcome the challenges we
face in Puerto Rico, is entrepreneurship.
* In the words of Jim Collins (From Good to
Great), “First Who, Then What”. Who’s engaging in
food related activities?
* Ethical, Disciplined, Intellectual, Thorough, Innovat
ive People
* What needs to be in place in order to promote
entrepreneurialism?
*

10. * Dan Isenberg, Babson College, promoted during the Puerto
Rico Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Project 13 elements that
must be in place in order to achieve economic
development:
* leadership;
* Government as facilitator;
* culture;
* entrepreneur success stories;
* the availability of human capital in terms of skilled and
unskilled;
* Financial capital;
* non-government organizations (NGOs) that are working to
support entrepreneurship;
*

11. * educational institutions;
* infrastructure;
* the presence of economic clusters;
* the availability of networks that can be made up of the
diaspora, entrepreneurs and multinational corporations;
* support services in terms of the availability of good
legal and accounting firms and investment bankers;
* and early customers who are available to support a
company’s products and services.
*

12. * The scope of Government in recent years has been
that of promoting “agripreneurs” through:
* Agribusiness coursework for farmers through SBTDC’s
and UPR programs as pre condition to incentives;
* Creating “High Yield, High Quality” models;
* Investing in applied research to solve issues pertaining
tropical agriculture;
* Providing incentives for renewable energy
infrastructure;
* Assisting to organize a Food Cluster;
* Reaching out to consumers through Market Farmers and
Media Campaigns to Buy Local.
*

13. * Puerto Rico has gone from subsistence agriculture, to
agri industry (late 1800’s and early 1900’s), agrarian
reform (1940’s), centralized planning (early
60’s), government as producer (1970’s), subsidized
agriculture (1980’s), to a somewhat market driven
agriculture (1990’s), to an attempt of coop model in
the early 2000’s along with all of the preceding.
* Most recently, an effort to achieve a truly market
economy driven agriculture has taken place, this time
with a twist as we considered the “social, congnitive
and emotional factors on economic decisions (both
individuals and organizations) and the consequences
for market prices, returns and resource allocation” as
the new trend of economics is defined.
*

14. Emerging Opportunities
Commerce to mainland
cities with high Puerto Canada
Rican population.
Smart
Institutional Guys with big
Engagement at
Markets (School trucks who
the
Districts) dare to cook!
supermarket
*

15. * Farmers Market
* Mercado Urbano
* Urban Farmers’ Market in affluent area of San Juan
with several editions across the island.
* Placita en Plaza
* Farmers’ Market inside Caribbean’s largest Shopping
Mall.
* Harvest of Puerto Rico
* Seal of Quality and Media Campaign
*

16. *

17. * Risk: The Politics of Fear, by Dan Gardner.
* An old trend is lurking around these days: FEAR.
* shortage on food supplies, climate change, food recalls, epidemics.
* Particular responses are expected from these potential threats.
* For Puerto Rico, in the 1930’s having 100% of food produced on the island
meant a threat on food security because of hurricanes. The solution:
Imports.
* Also, around that time, the US faced a very limited purchasing power of
the American people. The Solution: Welfare.
* During the Cold War Era the threat was a nuclear attack and food
availability in shelters over long periods: The Solution: Canned Food.
* Nowadays, here we face the concern of a disabling earthquake that may
prevent ships from docking and hence cut the chain of supply. The
Solution: Produce 100% of food locally until the next hurricane hits!
* While crises occurs, what? The best way to avoid crises is taking care
of opportunities.
*