  Across the Caribbean, agriculture is undergoing a quiet revolution. Farmers are adapting to climate change, embracing regenerative practices, rebuilding local food systems, and reclaiming traditional knowledge. But one of the most powerful tools driving this transformation isn’t a new technology or a new crop — it’s storytelling. More specifically: agricultural podcasts. These audio platforms are emerging as essential spaces for learning, connection, and advocacy. And right here in the USVI, we now have a standout example leading the way: the Of Seed & Soil Podcast, produced by the VI Good Food Coalition and hosted by the dynamic Sommer Sibilly Brown. At Que Sera Farms, we believe this kind of storytelling is reshaping the future of Caribbean agriculture. Of Seed & Soil: A New Voice Rooted in the Virgin Islands. The Of Seed & Soil Podcast is one of the most exciting new contributions to Caribbean agricultural media. Produced on St. Croix by the VI Good Food Coalition, the podcast explores the deep connections between land, culture, food, and community across the Virgin Islands and the wider region. Hosted by Sommer Sibilly Brown of VI Good Food Coalition, a passionate advocate for food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture, the podcast brings together farmers, chefs, policymakers, historians, and community leaders to discuss the past, present, and future of Caribbean food systems. Listeners can find the podcast on YouTube, making it accessible to anyone with a smartphone — from farmers in the field to students, policymakers, and diaspora communities. Each episode digs into:
Why Podcasts Like Of Seed & Soil Matter for Caribbean Agriculture 1. They democratize agricultural knowledge. Podcasts are accessible, mobile, and easy to integrate into daily life. Farmers can listen while driving, planting, or harvesting. Policymakers can listen between meetings. Students can listen on the bus. This accessibility breaks down barriers and ensures that knowledge flows freely across islands and generations. 2. They amplify local stories that rarely reach mainstream media. Caribbean agriculture is rich with innovation, resilience, and cultural wisdom — but these stories often go untold. Of Seed & Soil changes that by:
3. They connect the Caribbean to global agricultural movements. From regenerative agriculture to food sovereignty to the UN’s 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer, global conversations are shifting toward equity, sustainability, and resilience. Podcasts help Caribbean farmers and policymakers stay connected to these movements while grounding the conversation in our unique island realities. 4. They influence policy and public perception. When policymakers hear directly from farmers — in their own words, with their own stories — it changes how agricultural issues are understood. Podcasts:
Why Que Sera Farms Supports Agricultural Storytelling. At Que Sera Farms, we believe that agriculture is not just about growing food — it’s about growing community, culture, and connection. Podcasts like Of Seed & Soil:
Support local agricultural podcasts. Share them. Participate in them. Encourage ministries, cooperatives, and community groups to listen. Because every time a farmer tells their story, the region grows stronger. Checkout their episode here of Seed and Soil Podcast with the interview with Que Sera Farms. Thanks for supporting. Shelli Brin, Que Sera Farms.  
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In 2026, the United Nations shines a global spotlight on a truth Caribbean farmers have always known: women are the quiet engine of our agrifood systems. The International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026) recognizes the essential—but too often invisible—roles women play in food production, trade, community resilience, and rural development. For us at Que Sera Farms, this moment is more than symbolic. It is a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity for Caribbean governments to enact policies that finally match the scale of women farmers’ contributions. Why Women Farmers Matter to Caribbean Food Security. Across Latin America and the Caribbean, women sustain agrifood systems in ways that rarely appear in official statistics. They plant, harvest, manage livestock, preserve seeds, process food, and maintain the social networks that keep rural communities functioning. Yet much of this labor remains undervalued and unsupported. Key realities facing women farmers in our region:
FAO’s 2026 Guidance: What Caribbean Policymakers Can Do Now. The FAO has released tools and recommendations to help governments design gender‑transformative agricultural policies. These are not abstract ideas—they are actionable steps Caribbean nations can implement immediately. 1. Strengthen Women’s Access to Land and Resources. Women farmers in the Caribbean often work smaller plots and face barriers to land ownership. FAO emphasizes that addressing land tenure inequality is foundational to improving productivity and livelihoods. Policy actions:
Policy actions:
Policy actions:
Policy actions:
Policy actions:
By empowering women, governments can:
A Message from Que Sera Farms. At Que Sera Farms, we see firsthand the power, resilience, and innovation of women in agriculture in the Virgin Islands and in the region. We also see the barriers they face—barriers that can and must be dismantled through bold, evidence‑based policy. The International Year of the Woman Farmer is not just a celebration. It is a call to action. Caribbean governments have the opportunity—and responsibility—to lead the world in creating agricultural systems where women farmers are recognized, resourced, and empowered. The future of Caribbean food security depends on it. 
 In 2026, the world pauses to recognize something farmers have always known: women are at the heart of agriculture. The United Nations has officially designated 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, shining a global spotlight on the women who grow, process, sell, and sustain our food systems every single day. But for many of us in the Caribbean, this isn’t new. This is reality. Why This Year Matters. Women make up a significant share of the global agricultural workforce—estimated at around 43%—and in many regions, they produce a substantial portion of the food we eat. Yet despite their impact, women farmers often face:
The Role of Women in Agriculture (Especially in the Caribbean). Across the Caribbean, women are not just supporting agriculture—they are redefining it. Women are:
Caribbean Women Leading the Way. While many women lead quietly at the community level, several have shaped agriculture and rural development across the region:
Women Farmers and the Future of Climate Resilience. Women are consistently recognized as key drivers of:
What This Means for Farms Like Ours. At farms like Que Sera Farms, the “Year of the Woman Farmer” isn’t just something to celebrate—it’s something to build on. In honor of the women farmers in our family lineage, we've named all of our gardens after many women farmers in our family lineage. Moreover, it challenges us to:
A Year to Recognize—and to Act. 2026 is an invitation. An invitation to recognize the women who have always been doing the work. An invitation to invest in their leadership. And an invitation to reshape agriculture into something more inclusive, resilient, and locally rooted. In the Caribbean, we don’t have to imagine what that looks like. We’re already living it. #2026unyearofthewomanfarmer #IYWF2026 Shelli Brin, Que Sera Farms
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