ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the results of two projects carried out in the northern region of Costa Rica that were designed to provide sustainable production alternatives to small agricultural property holders, to reduce hunger and to achieve food security. Such alternatives included introducing small livestock and forest trees into the production systems, establishing organic agricultural practices and farm waste composting, using new horticultural crops, forage varieties, soil nutrient recycling, soil conservation practices and water spring protection in order to reduce dependence on chemical inputs and to minimize environmental and human health damage. Also, other activities carried out in the region were a care network for children and women, training in classrooms, in the field and through field trips. Finally, we will discuss market access by farmers.
