About this episode

The episode examines the complexities of Costa Rica's food systems, environmental challenges, and the interconnections between agriculture, water security, and land use.

The podcast explores the gap between Costa Rica’s celebrated green reputation and the more complicated reality on the ground, using two personal observations as entry points: noticing less organic food in stores than 20 years ago, and experiencing a water shutoff in San Isidro. It traces the history of organic agriculture in Costa Rica — how it boomed in the late 90s but was largely export-driven, leaving little for local consumers — and explains how agroecological farming and domestic markets are now quietly growing as alternatives. It confronts the uncomfortable fact that despite its environmental image, Costa Rica is one of the world’s heaviest pesticide users per hectare, driven by industrial pineapple and banana monocultures. The water crisis is unpacked through four layers: climate variability and El Niño, aging infrastructure, growing demand, and policy gaps. A livestock segment examines how cattle ranching drove massive deforestation historically, how it still occupies over a third of the country’s land, and how silvopastoral and low-carbon farming practices are trying to change that. Everything is tied together by showing that food systems, land use, and water security…

Topics covered

• organic agriculture
• pesticide use
• water crisis
• agroecological farming
• food systems
• land use
• climate variability

Keywords

• Costa Rica
• organic food
• pesticides
• water shutoff
• agriculture
• deforestation
• climate change
• food systems

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Progressive Radio Network

Places: Costa Rica, San Isidro

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