Checking In With Kennan Adams

Young Leaders Award recipient Keenan Adams was a military brat; however, South Carolina is considered home. He played college football, studied forestry and wildlife, and got a PhD from Clemson University. He has spent the last 15 years working as a land manager and scientist for several agencies in many parts of the country. He started a farm in Puerto Rico to make a positive impact on the land and the community.

We recently checked in with Keenan to learn more about his background and plans for the conservation and regeneration of the planet.

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WS: Could you start by telling us a bit about yourself and what inspired you to embark on your current project?

KA: I’m Keenan, a military brat, but South Carolina is home. I was deployed to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria to lead recovery efforts for natural and cultural resources, and I haven’t left the island since. There is still so much more recovery needed. I saw the opportunity with regenerative tourism and agriculture. I purchased a farm because landownership was a dream, especially since my family lost its land decades ago. As soon as I met my neighbors, I realized I had to use this farm for good. The average per-capita income here is around $17K. So, I expedited my plans to restore the forest by farming shade-grown cacao and decided to start a glamping site to help the adjacent community earn extra cash.

WS: How might receiving the Walking Softer Young Leaders Award affect your project?

KA: It’s about scale. The money would be an injection to help move the project faster. We’ll be able to plant thousands of trees because of the funding, and it will also help with getting the word out by making investments in our social media and content creation.

WS: Can you describe the core components of your project and how it contributes to the conservation or regeneration of the planet?

KA: The core component is to use USDA climate-smart agriculture practices. Much of the farm is currently degraded pasture. We will plant plantains to provide shade for the cacao trees, and concurrently, we are planting native shade trees that help regenerate the soil. The plantains will provide income for the first three years, while the cacao trees mature enough to be in full production. This reforestation process will sequester carbon and reduce erosion. Most importantly, it will provide a replicable model. The concept is “regenerative farming,” a practice that improves environmental conditions while growing food.

WS: What have been some of the biggest challenges you've faced while working on your initiative? How have you overcome these obstacles so far?

KA: Puerto Rico ranks 67th in the world for the “ease of doing business". Working on an island is difficult because everything takes longer, and getting equipment shipped is very expensive. Overcoming that requires a shift in mentality, learning when to accept reality, and other times learning how to “hack bureaucracy” to get past red tape.

WS: In what ways does your project engage with local communities? How important is community involvement to the success of your initiative, and why?

KA: My project is centered on the community. I met with them and asked what I could do to help, and they told me they needed part-time jobs to augment their income. They want to build micro-businesses from the economic activity. So, instead of selling plantains to the store, a community member can make traditional Puerto Rican dishes that can be sold at a much higher margin. They are integral to the success of the project because if their lives aren’t better because of this project, then I’ve failed to accomplish my objectives.

WS: Could you share a particular success story from your project that you feel proud of?

KA: Community members and I built a glamping site that is due to launch this fall. This will bring in positive income to the project. A community member will provide culinary services, another will provide cleaning services, and another will handle routine maintenance. I’m not paying hourly; instead, it’s a percentage of revenue sharing, which will be sustainably more.

WS: Where do you see your project in the next five years? What are your long-term goals for expanding or evolving your work?

KA: We aspire to become a chocolate/cacao cooperative that disrupts the current agribusiness model—one that balances the interests of the farmer, consumer, and corporation.

WS: What advice would you give to other young individuals who want to start their own environmental or climate projects?

KA: Plan, plan, and plan. Ensure you have a good one with realistic timelines. Take your time—good is better than fast.

WS: Who are your role models in the environmental and climate movements, and how have they influenced your approach to your work?

KA: My PhD advisor Dr. Drew Lanham and undergraduate advisor Dr. Travis Perry. They both poured their hearts and soul into me, helping me go from a rough-edged South Carolina public educated student, to a scientist. I had no business getting into Furman University, the only reason I did was because I was 6’3” & 225 pounds and could run 40 yards in 4.7 seconds (i.e. football scholarship). Dr. Perry mentored me, sacrificed a lot, so I could be successful.  Dr. Lanham (and his wife Janice) helped me get into graduate school and spent hundreds of hours outside of the lab, investing in me as a person. I’m not a “self-made” man, I’m someone who people took under their wing and was given a chance…despite the circumstances I grew up in.

WS: Lastly, how can people learn more about your work, and what can they do to support or get involved in your project?

KA: You can learn more by following HaciendaAgrobosque and cloudsglamping on Instagram. You can support us by spreading the word and providing financial support through PayPal at agrobosquellc@gmail.com.

To achieve this vision, we need your support. By funding Agro Bosque, you're not just investing in fine chocolate; you're investing in the sustainable recovery and future of Puerto Rico. Join us in creating a model of agricultural excellence that restores the environment, uplifts communities, and sets a new standard for ethical and sustainable cacao farming. Together, we can make a significant impact.

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Follow Kennan's work:

Website: haciendaagrobosque.com

Instagram: HaciendaAgrobosque

Instagram: cloudsglamping