Ambitious 1 000-acre sustainable farming initiative launches

An environmental entrepreneur, Joshua Forte, has unveiled an ambitious plan to convert 1 000 acres of land into regenerative organic farms, a move aimed at tackling food insecurity, boosting agriculture, and restoring soil health. 

The Journey to 1 000 Acres programme, launched on Thursday at Pelican Village in Bridgetown, combines science, sustainability, and grassroots empowerment in a national effort to restore soil health and improve the island’s food self-sufficiency.

Speaking at the launch event, Forte, founder and CEO of Red Diamond Compost Inc., described the programme as a deeply personal mission shaped by his own health challenges and a decade-long journey advocating for cleaner, more sustainable farming practices.

“This is something that is very close to my heart and close to my journey to trying to bring clean, nutritious foods to people across the world and especially here in Barbados,” he said. “We had this vision and mission of converting a thousand acres of land in Barbados from either being in bush or under conventional practice into regenerative organic agriculture.”

With financial and technical support from the Barbados Environmental Conservation Trust (BECT), the programme is being offered at no cost to participants. So far, 36 people have already signed up, with registration closing next Wednesday.

Although the focus is on Barbadian farmers, Forte noted that interest has poured in from several other countries. Applicants from Antigua, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Cameroon, and the United Kingdom have expressed interest in participating in the virtual components of the training.

At the heart of the programme are three key components: an online Living Soils Mastery course focusing on soil biology and regenerative practices; a business development module titled “From Seed to Sales” aimed at strengthening farm management and profitability; and a three-day in-person Farm Sprint Workshop providing practical training in composting, planting, harvesting, packaging, and marketing.

Forte’s company specialises in converting invasive Sargassum seaweed into bio fertilisers. He emphasised that many farmers in Barbados have yet to unlock their land’s full potential. 

“With the right education and tools,” he said, “growers can significantly increase yields, reduce input costs, and contribute to national food sovereignty.

“We’ve heard the complaints—about lack of support and what the ministry needs to do and so on—but at the end of the day, for us to achieve our goal and mission of food security, we all have a role to play.”

Each participant will receive a starter package of Red Diamond’s flagship products—Supreme C BioStimulant and Liquid Sunshine Plant Food—along with continued support during and after the programme to ensure successful implementation.

BECT’s Executive Director Ché Greenidge said the initiative aligns perfectly with the trust’s mandate to support impactful environmental projects tied to sustainable food systems. 

“This kind of project falls directly within one of our pillars for food security,” she said. “We’re really excited and expect to see so many great results coming from it.” 

She added that BECT is not just a funder but also a proud collaborator.

In addition to on-the-ground training, Journey to 1 000 Acres will feature a digital component called Community Corners, a YouTube series documenting participants’ stories and progress as they apply what they’ve learned in the field.

Forte stressed that education alone is not enough; ongoing support is critical for success. “The success of participants is our success,” he said. “That’s what we’re focused on.”  

shannamoore@barbadostoday.bb