Committee debates bill to let sustainable‑agriculture BAs qualify for agronomist license

The Commission on Agriculture of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico heard competing views on a proposal to change licensure requirements for agronomists during a public hearing (date not specified).

The bill under review, H.B. 361, would amend Article 5 of Law No. 20 (April 9, 1941) to allow graduates holding a bachelor of arts in sustainable agriculture from accredited institutions to obtain licensure, provided the degree includes at least 40 credits in formal sustainable‑agriculture coursework and at least eight credits each in biology and chemistry; the bill also permits candidates with such a bachelor's degree to qualify if they hold a subsequent master's or doctoral degree in agricultural sciences. That language was read into the record by Subsecretary Irvin Rodríguez on behalf of the Department of Agriculture.

Why it matters: Licensing criteria determine which graduates may legally call themselves agronomists and advise farmers on production, pest control and soil and crop management. Supporters say the change would broaden the pipeline of professionals in rural areas such as Utuado; opponents say it risks lowering scientifically grounded standards that protect producers and consumers.

Department position and testimony Irvin Rodríguez, subsecretary of agriculture, read a departmental memorandum from Secretary Josue9 E. Rivera describing the bill and noting the department's interest in expanding educational pathways while recommending consultation with academic experts. The memo asked the commission to seek technical comments from the University of Puerto Rico and other education institutions before advancing legislative changes.

Regulatory board opposes the bill Luz Eneida Irizarri (introduced in the hearing as president of the Junta Examinadora de Candidatos al Ejercicio de la Agronomeda y de Agrf3nomos de Puerto Rico) told the commission the board's statutory role is to guarantee rigorous scientific preparation. Irizarri said the board reviewed the proposed change and concluded the Utuado program identified in the bill lacks the depth of coursework the board regards as essential. "La junta examinadora se opone a la aprobacif3n del proyecto 3 6 1," she said during her presentation.

Board secretary Manuel Crespo Ruiz provided license counts to the commission. Citing the board's licensing report as of March 25 (year in record not specified), Crespo said there were 393 initial licenses approved and 374 renewed licenses, for a total of 767 active licenses at that snapshot. Crespo also stated the board's historical totals since 1941 exceed 6,000 issued licenses; he framed active licenses as a smaller subset subject to ongoing five‑year renewal cycles.

Debate and suggested remedies Members of the board and several agronomists said the profession requires a strong foundation in laboratory and field sciences (chemistry, biology, physics, soil science, entomology and plant pathology). Board members recommended options short of a legislative exception: require program adjustments at the institutional level, pursue revalidation (an exam or review) for program graduates, or have the University of Puerto Rico alter program sequencing so that coursework mirrors existing baccalaureate science programs.

Representative Yoito Colf3n Rodredguez, president of the committee, and some legislators signaled sympathy for Utuado students' access to degrees but repeatedly asked the board and the Department of Education to produce specific curricular comparisons and technical reports before changing law. The committee did not vote on the bill during the hearing.

Other actions recorded The commission accepted for the record a written submission from a UPR Utuado student (Segarra) related to H.B. 361. The commission also identified that further expert input from UPR and the Junta Examinadora is needed and left the measure under consideration.

What happens next No formal vote was taken. Committee members said they will request curricular comparisons and technical recommendations from UPR, the Junta Examinadora and the Department of Education before advancing any amendment to Law No. 20.