Loida Vasquez: Filling the Demand for Regenerative Agricultural Practices

Taking samples from a shrimp pond in Vietnam

Loida Vasquez worked as a loss prevention executive for Bloomingdale’s, investigating financial crimes for the high-end department store chain. Even though she was successful at her job, she admits that the work didn’t feed her soul. She wanted to make a difference in the world, so she decided to return to school and study sustainable living.

When Loida accidentally discovered MIU on the Internet, she became intrigued by Consciousness-Based education. Upon further research, she realized the Sustainable Living program was perfect for her. She took the applied soil ecology track, and after taking the living soil class with Dr. Elaine Ingham, she applied for an internship to work with Dr. Ingham at The Rodale Institute. Fortunately, the knowledge she learned in the classroom proved to be practical and easy to apply in the field.

Analyzing the shrimp pond biology with Dr. Ingham

Loida also gained a lot from the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique. “On a personal level, the largest contribution MIU gave me is TM,” said Loida. “I was in a constant fight or flight mode and overworking my body. I am on an even keel now, and that has been helpful because it allows me to have deeper thought processes as opposed to reactive thought processes.”

After graduating in 2014, Loida continued to mentor with Dr. Ingham and assist her with her soil biology seminars. During these seminars, Loida began to acquire a clientele of small and large scale food growers. Loida’s company, Regenerative Soils, consults with and trains farmers in soil restoration through composting. She also helps them monitor and improve their systems for continued yield growth and cost reduction.

“The world is in desperate need of a new growing system, and we are providing a good avenue for a lot of growers and larger farming systems because they are finding success,” said Loida.

Loida now has clients all over the U.S. and in Central and South America. She recently traveled to Vietnam with Dr. Ingham to find a solution to the bacterial diseases that have been plaguing the shrimp industry. Loida hopes to grow her company and hire and train employees to serve the increasing need for regenerative agricultural practices.