The Government of Bahamas is on the move to sustainably expand the production of Cascarilla (Croton eluteria) and grow new businesses around this valuable shrub. The oil and other aromatic compounds produced by the plant are highly valuable in the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, food and perfume industries. The essential oil extracted from the Cascarilla bark is…

In Dominica, white potato farmers are being guided on the best production practices, through a series Farmers Field Schools (FFS). The FFSs are taking place throughout the growing cycle of the crop so farmers are receiving hands on practical experience on crop production. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy and the Caribbean…

Nineteen boxes of sweet potatoes have been harvested from research plots established in agro ecological zones in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) and shipped to Trinidad for post harvest evaluations and biochemical analyses. These activities are part of Component 2 of the Regional Sweet Potato project financed by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and…

St Vincent and the Grenadines is targeting to produce 5 million EC dollars’ worth of white potato annually for local consumption under their National White Potato Production Project. This initiative is a key component of St. Vincent and the Grenadines commitment to the CARICOM 25 by 25 initiative and the country’s National Diversification Programme. It…

More than 50 persons from across the Caribbean participated in the Regional Workshop on Sustainable and Resilient Coconut Production within a Changing Climate co-hosted by CARDI, the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the Coconut Industry Board (CIB) from 4-8 March 2024 in Jamaica. This workshop was an activity under Phase 2 of the regional Coconut…

On 12 March 2024, the Pilot Project, “Demonstration of a solar powered wailer bird deterrent system to reduce crop losses caused by Parrots and Cocrico in Tobago” was launched at the Goodwood Secondary School. The project, jointly implemented by CARDI and the Division of Food Security, Natural Resources, the Environment and Sustainable Development is the…

As the only CARICOM institution responsible for agricultural research and development, CARDI has a key role in the achievement of Vision 25 x 2025. This is CARICOM’s blueprint and governments’ collective commitment towards reducing the Regional food import bill by 25% while transforming the sector towards full commercialization. Executive Director, Ansari Hosein notes that Institute…

Climate/weather smart agricultural food production systems are being installed in 6 schools and 1 community in Barbados under the ‘Promotion of Agricultural Crop Production Systems which Demonstrate Resilience to Climate and Weather’ project, financed by the Government of Ireland (Implementing Agency) and the CARICOM Secretariat (Executing agency). CARDI Barbados is leading the implementation of the…

In an April 2023 article by Terrence Blackman and Carolyn Walcott, “From Black Gold to Green Fields: The Promise of Guyana’s Oil Wealth in Supporting Agriculture”, the authors emphasized Guyana’s significant oil and as revenues with a projected extraction rate of 1.7 million barrels of oil per day by 2030 and how that could translate…

The agrifood system contributes significantly to climate change, producing over 30% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. At the same time, climate-driven extreme weather and long-term changes in growing conditions around the globe threaten livelihoods, food and nutrition security, and ecological stability, with impacts falling most severely on women, youth, and vulnerable groups. One estimate…