With more frequent and stronger storms predicted which experts say could significantly disrupt food supply chains, Barbados has received a timely boost to its agriculture food crop production.
Island Growers Caribbean has set up shop in Bridgetown, becoming the first 100 per cent climate-smart and category five hurricane resistant greenhouse system in the region.
It is expected to start production this month, producing over 4,200 pounds of fresh, organic produce each month within its approximately 5,200 square feet greenhouse farm space. This is expected to be expanded up to 75,000 square feet over a three-year period.
Promising to shake things up in the local and regional agriculture sector, the company promises to focus heavily on producing “cold weather crops” including some herbs, berries and other fruits and vegetables that are now imported.
Ralph Birkhoff is Founder and Chief Operating Officer of the Connecticut-based Alquimi Renewables, and Co-founder of Island Growers Caribbean, a farming operations group for the region that is a part of Alquimi Renewables.
Birkhoff, who was featured in this month’s edition of the Invest Barbados newsletter, said the agri-solutions business had an initial equity capital investment of US$500,000 for phase 1, with commitments of up to US$3 million at the phase three project level.
“In addition to helping to reduce food imports, Island Growers Caribbean is seeking to hire young people to work on its newly constructed 5,000 square foot greenhouse farm,” said Birkhoff.
“I was thrilled by the fact that we opted to establish in Barbados. Your Prime Minister is very vocal and focused on national and regional food secuity,” he said.
“She understands the issues and vulnerabilities of over-dependency and as an island you have actively encouraged local agriculture in all its forms. Barbados has always had a long history with agriculture and we are pleased to work with our local partners Armag Farms to contribute to current and future goals and improve the quality of fresh food available locally,” he added.
The company, which promotes food safety and reduced pesticide use, has already started advocacy for food safety certification in the region.
“It is a good thing that everything we grow at our farms is organic quality. We plan to be the first farms in the Caribbean region to be USDA Organic Certified. It’s time our local consumers had access to higher quality fresh food that is much safer and healthier to eat,” the company said in a social media post.
Island Growers farm projects are currently underway in five other islands with the aim of starting production later this year.
It promised that its production methods will use less water and energy than other hydroponic systems, setting a new precedent for climate smart protected agriculture across the Caribbean.
(marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb)
