BICO boss rebuffs criticism over imported milk

Tensions between dairy producers and the retail trade simmered Tuesday, as BICO’s Executive Chairman Edwin Thirlwell dismissed recent criticism from the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) regarding the company’s importation of reconstituted milk.

But Thirwell refused to be drawn into a public debate on the matter, despite his brief rebuff of BAS Chief Executive Officer James Paul, who criticised BICO for likening its reconstituted powdered milk to domestic fresh milk from Pine Hill Dairy amid ongoing shortages.

“What he is saying does not solve the milk problem,” Thirlwell told Barbados TODAY. “Talk is cheap, action speaks better. I am not saying anything else.”

Paul, speaking after Agrofest on Monday, strongly rejected the notion that BICO’s product was comparable to fresh milk processed by Pine Hill Dairy, which sources its raw material from Barbadian farmers.

“First of all, there are two different things, and I believe it is disingenuous to give the impression to the Barbadian public that the milk being produced by BICO, which is made from milk powder, is the same as what is being sold by Pine Hill Dairy,” Paul said. “It is simply not true.”

Paul emphasised that the genuine dairy industry in Barbados relies on the production of fresh milk and that supporting Pine Hill Dairy directly benefits the island’s farmers and the broader agricultural economy.

“BICO does not utilise raw milk from Barbados. So to give the public the impression that they are doing the same thing is misleading,” he added. “What we need to recognise is that expanding the dairy industry means increasing local milk production—not importing powdered milk, adding water, and calling it milk.”

Over the past several months, there has been a shortage of various milk products from the island’s sole dairy on supermarket shelves. In a recent advertisement, the dairy promised that shelves would soon be replenished. Pine Hill Dairy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest developments.

Dairy farmers, who imported 180 pregnant heifers in December, are anticipating that milk production should increase soon.

Paul argued that the dairy industry’s growth hinges on increasing the number of dairy cows on the island, an initiative the BAS has been working on with the Ministry of Agriculture.

“We want to get back to producing 350 000 litres of milk per month, and even increase that to 500 000 litres,” he said. “That’s what real investment in the dairy sector looks like—not importing cheap powdered milk from New Zealand.”

He further contended that BICO’s approach does not contribute to Barbados’ long-term food security: “What Mr Thirlwell is suggesting does not help Barbados achieve food security. It simply increases our dependency on imports.”

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb