August 28, 2026 — Professor Julio C. Hernández presented the Food Security and Agricultural Research Data Center during a discussion organized by the Economic and Social Planning Program. The event, held at the Conference Room of the Economic and Social Planning Program on the 15th floor of the North Tower in Minillas, brought together faculty members in person and virtually to discuss the importance of data and research resources for understanding food security and agriculture in Puerto Rico.

August 21, 2026 — Professor Julio C. Hernández presented the Food Security and Agricultural Research Data Center at Acción y Reforma Agrícola’s 2026 Annual Members Assembly in Coamo. The event brought together members of the agricultural sector and provided an opportunity to share data and resources that support a better understanding of food security and agriculture in Puerto Rico.

June 24, 2026 — Professor Julio César Hernández participated in La Fórmula, a podcast by Oriental Bank, where he joined experts to discuss rising food costs in Puerto Rico, including local production, distribution, and food prices. The conversation highlighted how these factors impact food security and access to affordable food across the island.

December 5, 2025 — Professors Julio César Hernández and Héctor Tavárez participated in the 48th Scientific Meeting and Annual Assembly of the Sociedad Puertorriqueña de Ciencias Agrícolas (SOPCA), held at the Colegio de Agrónomos de Puerto Rico. The event brought together researchers and students to present work focused on agricultural development in Puerto Rico.

October 20, 2025 — Professors Julio C. Hernández, Héctor S. Tavárez, and Alexandra Gregory joined Desde la EEA to discuss the creation of the Food Security Data Center and the need for accurate, local food security data in Puerto Rico. The conversation highlighted the role of data in understanding food security and supporting research and decision-making across the island.

October 17, 2025 — Professors Héctor Tavárez, President in Office (2025–2026), and Julio César Hernández, President-Elect (2026–2027), participated in the Assembly of the Asociación de Economistas, alongside former president Dr. Alba Brugueras Fabre. Their participation helps bring greater awareness of food security and its importance to economists, researchers, and the broader public in Puerto Rico.

October 16, 2025 — Professors Julio César Hernández, Héctor Tavárez and Alexandra Gregory presented the Food Security Data Center at a discussion held at the UPR Río Piedras Campus. The conversation introduced food security estimates for Puerto Rico and highlighted the Center’s data resources for research on food security, agriculture, natural resources, and ecosystem services.

May 10, 2024 — Professors Julio César Hernández, Héctor Tavárez and Alexandra Gregory participated in the Cuarto Congreso de Economía Aplicada at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. The event provided an opportunity to share research and promote conversations around food security, agriculture, and Puerto Rico’s food system.

October 17, 2023 — Professor Julio C. Hernández-Correa participated in the panel “Food Security: Recent Research and Public Policy” at the UPR Medical Sciences Campus, discussing local production and caloric demand in Puerto Rico. The event brought together researchers in nutrition and public health to share research and promote greater awareness of food security and its connection to public policy.

January 13, 2023 — Professor Julio César Hernández Correa received a $200,000 NIFA grant to establish the Food Security and Agricultural Research Data Center at UPR Mayagüez. The initiative, developed with Héctor Tavárez, Alexandra Gregory, and Rosa N. Chávez Jáuregui, aims to make agricultural and food security data in Puerto Rico more accessible and support research and decision-making around the island’s food system.