Farms in Puerto Rico are used in research and development of up to 85 percent of the corn, soybean, and other hybrid seeds grown in the United States, according to a biotech trade group on the island. “So, the devastation wrought on the U.S. territory by Hurricane Maria in September stretches to the croplands of the Midwest and Great Plains,” reports Harvest Public Media.
Puerto Rico’s warm climate allows seed companies to grow three seasons of crops a year, handy when the companies want to improve their products or test the purity of the seeds before they go on the market. Corn, soybeans, cotton, and sorghum are commonly grown on the research farms, says Harvest Media.
Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rican agriculture, including the research farms, says the Puerto Rico Biotechnology Industry Association. Some companies moved their projects to other locations, such as Hawaii or Chile. But others were able to quickly resume work because the hurricane hit before the usual slot for wintertime planting. “But that doesn’t mean business … as usual,” says Harvest Media. Third Millennium Genetics, for example, was forced to make do with one farm instead of two because of damage to buildings and equipment. The company then decided to grow melons on part of that farm “because we needed the food on the island.”