About The Grant

SFM Consulting has launched the Jennifer and Shawn McGlynn Agricultural Innovation Grant, an annual award to the global citizen, non-profit, or start-up company that proposes the most promising, tangible opportunity to further sustainable agriculture innovation.

Winning proposals will demonstrate strong potential to achieve one or more of the following priorities, whether at local, regional, or global scale:

·       Increase agricultural productivity

·       Increase efficiency of water, nutrient, and other inputs

·       Increase local access to nutrient-rich foods

·       Promote community engagement in agriculture

·       Diversify local agricultural markets

·       Put new technologies or practices to use

·       Integrate agriculture with natural landscapes

·       Enhance ecosystem services (for example, water filtration, pollination, carbon sequestration) 

The maximum annual grant award is $10,000, which may be shared among multiple awardees.  Winning proposals will make a clear case for why they achieve one or more of the above priorities, will have a strong likelihood of success, and will contain a feasible budget and detailed budget narrative.

Proposals for the 2025 award round are due by September 1, 2024.

Winners are announced by the end of each calendar year.

Previous Grant Recipient

Company: Finca Aquaverde Inc

Founder: Juan Dominguez Correa

Description: Finca Aquaverde is a small business that consists of an aquaponics system that grows different varieties of lettuce and other greens in a sustainable way without adding synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. It is a 3 acre farm for planting and harvesting seasonal local produce including plantains, bananas, papayas, avocados, guavas, mangos and starfruits, among others. It is also a home brewery where probiotic drinks such as kombucha and water kefir are made. The business strongly believes that agriculture is the future of Puerto Rico and identifies the need for healthy, clean, local foods and methods of food production that are sustainable and eco-friendly. They began construction 3 years ago in San Germán, Puerto Rico and have sold products at Rincon’s Farmers Market since July 2018. They are now in the process of expanding in order to satisfy the high demand for their products.

SFM Consulting continues to support Finca Aqua Verde with a 2019 Agricultural Grant. Juan Dominquez and Nadia Vera have expanded their entrepreneurial vision to include growing an extensive array of microgreens and to increase their kombucha production into restaurants and grocery stores. Juan, an engineer, has devised a passive, closed system of aquaponic farming that results in beautiful, nutritious products. Finca Aqua Verde has developed a reputation for exceptional quality vegetables, microgreens, and kombucha as they continue to expand in the Rincon, Aguadilla, and San Juan areas of Puerto Rico.

Facebook and Instagram: @fincaaquaverde