Jose Reyes

Venezuelan agronomist who revolutionized sustainable farming in Latin America

Origins & Innovation

Jose Reyes (1910-1975) grew up witnessing Venezuela's agricultural struggles during the Great Depression. He developed the Agroecología Popular methodology combining indigenous farming wisdom with modern science. His La Huerta Comunitaria model became the blueprint for urban agriculture in Caracas and beyond.

Key Contributions

• Created the first seed bank network in South America (1948)
• Developed drought-resistant corn varieties using ancestral farming techniques
• Established the Agroecology Training Center in Mérida

Global Influence

Reyes' work inspired Brazil's Landless Workers Movement and Cuba's Organopónico Vivero Alamar. His Manual de Agricultura Sostenible (1962) remains required reading at universities like Universidad Central de Venezuela. Modern agroecology pioneers like Rodale Institute credit his early work.

Controversies & Legacy

His collaborations with Fidel Castro's government caused political tensions. Despite this, the FAO 2020 Report credits him with preventing famine in 3 Andean countries during the 1960s. The Jose Reyes Agroecology Prize now honors innovators in sustainable farming worldwide.