Barbados is stepping up its use of cutting-edge agricultural technology in a bid to strengthen the island's food and nutritional security. Director of the Centre for Agricultural Research and Innovation (CAGRI), Michele Singh, said the University of the West Indies (UWI) initiative was demonstrating how science and innovation could be transformed into practical, income-generating solutions for farmers and households, reducing reliance on imported food and improving national resilience.
Speaking at the launch of CAGRI's Dual Technology Drive for Food Security at the Owen Arthur CARICOM Research Complex, UWI Cave Hill Campus yesterday, Singh explained that the centre's mission was not limited to research projects, but focused on helping farmers and households adopt innovative systems that made agriculture more productive and financially viable. The event formed part of global activities to mark World Food Day.
"The Centre for Agricultural Research and Innovation is what we like to call a knowledge translation centre. It is not so much about projects, but about taking the science of agriculture and translating it into bankable businesses. We work directly with the beneficiaries – the farmers – to help them adopt technology that will make them more profitable," the CAGRI director said.
Among the technologies showcased at the launch were hydroponic systems designed for small-scale adoption and a black soldier fly protein project, both of which, Singh said, could transform how Barbadians grow crops and feed livestock.
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