A New Year, Rooted in Farmers and Landowners

Asekia forestry program participants at an ecotourism workshop held in Puerto Rico

As we begin a new year, we remain grounded in a simple belief: strong agriculture and forestry begin with farmers and landowners—their experience, their decisions, and their long-term commitment to caring for the land and sustaining their operations.

Over the past year, Asekia expanded farmer-centered outreach across multiple states and territories, focusing on what producers and landowners consistently tell us they need most: clear information, practical guidance, and access to opportunities that strengthen economic and environmental resilience. Through trusted partnerships, we helped connect landowners to resources, supported conservation and productivity goals, and opened pathways to existing and emerging markets.

Education remains central to this work. Our bilingual curricula, internship programs, and workforce pathways are designed to increase understanding, build skills, and support informed decision-making—both for producers and for the next generation of professionals serving agriculture and forestry. These efforts reflect years of steady learning, adaptation, and accountability, guided by real-world outcomes rather than theory alone.

Heriberto Martínez Méndez, Chief Agronomist in Puerto Rico, with forestry program participants Charles Cole Castillo and Milarich Rohena Ramírez

This work would not be possible without our partners across Puerto Rico, Florida, North Carolina, New Mexico, Texas, and beyond. In Puerto Rico, we collaborate with organizations such as Finca Bien-Estar, Puerto Rico Sea Grant, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service–Caribbean, Victus Puerto Rico, Concéntrico, and local farmer and landowner leaders advancing education, conservation, and market readiness. 

In North Carolina, partners including Acción Hispana / Qué Pasa Media and Vínculo Hispano help ensure information reaches farmers and forest landowners in accessible and trusted ways. In Florida, New Mexico, and Texas, we work alongside the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Forest Stewards Guild, MillPont, regional conservation partners, educational institutions, and agency collaborators to strengthen outreach, technical assistance, and land stewardship. In 2026, we look forward to featuring these partnerships through monthly profiles that highlight practical results and lessons learned.

Forestry program participants at a bat conservation workshop in Puerto Rico

USDA has long been a partner in this work. When USDA efforts align with practical needs on the ground, Asekia helps translate programs and information into usable knowledge for producers and forest landowners. Our focus on clear results, accountability, and education supports continued collaboration in service of those who work the land.

Looking ahead, we are expanding our monthly education and outreach efforts, including social media learning, farmer and landowner profiles, and straightforward guidance on markets, stewardship practices, and new opportunities. By sharing real experiences from those working the land, we aim to support peer learning and informed choices.

This year, our focus remains clear: increase knowledge, expand market potential, and support farmers and landowners with practical, reliable information—with integrity, transparency, and optimism for what’s ahead.

For more information, contact us at info@asekia.org.