(MENAFN- Costa Rica News) The post Women Heads of Households Lead Sustainable Agriculture and Circular Economy Project in Guanacaste appeared first on The Costa Rica News.

On Costa Rica's northern Pacific coast, three women from Guanacaste are purposefully transforming local agriculture. Filenia, Claudia, and Carolina, heads of households in neighboring communities, lead Huerta Najui, an agroecological project of Reserva Conchal, FIFCO's hospitality division, which combines female leadershi with sustainability, agricultural innovatio, and the circular economy.

La Huerta Najui is an agricultural model that promotes local development, food security, and women's participation in sustainable productive activities. Its production-consisting of vegetables, aromatic herbs, and edible flowers-is destined for internal consumption at the Neenda, The Westin Reserva Conchal, and W Costa Rica – Reserva Conchal restaurants, bringing freshness, flavor, and traceability to every dish served.

“Najui” means“woman” in Chorotega, and pays tribute to the cultural roots of the region, while symbolizing the strength, dedication, and connection to the land that characterizes Guanacaste women. The project also reflects FIFCO's circular economy vision: the crops use locally generated compost from organic wast from the Reserva Conchal Recovery Center, closing the loop between waste management and healthy eating.

During 2024, the garden stood out for its production of edible flowers, developed in conjunction with Luciana Angulo, a student at the University of Costa Rica (UCR), who participates as a technical consultant for the project. This crop reached a total production of 4,000 units, used in hotel menus, strengthening the complex's gastronomic innovation.

Currently, the team continues to innovate with new flower species, including white clitoria, and is working on expanding the main mesh house to increase production and improve crop control. In addition, the women receive ongoing training from two agricultural engineers from the University of Costa Rica (UCR), who support the technical and sustainable development of the project.

“Najui is much more than a vegetable garden: it is an example of how sustainability can empower people and transform communities. This project combines female leadership, agroecological practices, and a regenerative approach, reflecting the vision of responsible, long-term tourism that we promote through our operations,” said Gabriela Meza, Sustainability Manager at Reserva Conchal.

The initiative has created decent, stable employment for women in the area, promoting their economic independence and strengthening their technical and leadership skills. Participants receive ongoing training in good agricultural practices, compost management, pest control, occupational safety, and crop management, promoting a model that generates real social impact.

“Every seed planted in Najui represents an opportunity to regenerate the land and the social fabric of Guanacaste. At Reserva Conchal, we believe in sustainability as a bridge between tourism development and human well-being,” he added.

“Every seed planted in Najui represents an opportunity to regenerate the land and the social fabric of Guanacaste. At Reserva Conchal, we believe in sustainability as a bridge between tourism development and human well-being,” added Meza.

With this project, Reserva Conchal reaffirms its vision of regenerative tourism, in which social and environmental investment transcends the business sphere to become a driver of sustainable development for Guanacaste communities.

The post Women Heads of Households Lead Sustainable Agriculture and Circular Economy Project in Guanacaste appeared first on The Costa Rica News.

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