𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙊𝙀𝘾𝙎 𝙅𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙮 𝙏𝙤𝙪𝙧

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙊𝙀𝘾𝙎 𝙅𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙮 𝙏𝙤𝙪𝙧 in San José, Costa Rica, bringing together OECS Ministers for Agriculture, youth, and women to explore sustainable agricultural solutions and economic opportunities in agribusiness.
💡 𝙆𝙚𝙮 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:
1.     Strengthening regional cooperation between OECS & IICA
2.    Advancing the FAST Strategy for climate-smart agriculture
3.    Empowering youth & women through entrepreneurship & innovation
4.    Hands-on learning at IICA’s innovation labs
5.    Exploring business incubators & policy frameworks for economic growth
This tour marks a powerful step forward in building resilient, innovative, and inclusive agricultural systems for the OECS region.

Project Update – Sweet Potato Project Takes Root: Local Varieties Shipped to USDA for Clean-Up and Research

As part of the significant milestone for agricultural development in Antigua and Barbuda, the Sweet Potato Project has officially entered a new phase. On, Tuesday 8th April], the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), in collaboration with the Agricultural Extension Division (AED), Plant Protection Unit (PPU) within the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), successfully shipped the first three sweet potato accessions to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The varieties—Hurricane, Black Rock, and King Crown—were selected for their potential and contribution to local food security. Once in the U.S., these accessions will undergo a process known as “clean-up” in USDA laboratories. This process involves eliminating any pests, diseases, or viruses that could affect crop productivity. Once cleared, the clean planting material will be returned to Antigua and Barbuda for planting in research plots located at Cades Bay and CARDI.

This initiative is an important step toward strengthening food systems, improving crop resilience, and preserving valuable local varieties.

A special thank you goes out to the local producers who generously donated planting material to support this project. Their contribution highlights the power of community collaboration in advancing agricultural research and sustainability: which is ultimately aimed at Food Sovereignty and Food Security.

Stay tuned for more updates as the Sweet Potato Project continues to grow—rooted in science, nurtured by the ministry, partners, stakeholders and the wider community.

         

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

HYDROPONICS PROJECT LAUNCHED AT SIR McCHESNEY GEORGE SCHOOL (BARBUDA)

Ferti-Irrigation Systems Installed at Cades Bay Agricultural Station by Brent Simon

The ongoing rehabilitation efforts at Cades Bay have reached another significant milestone with the installation of ferti-irrigation systems. This crucial upgrade will enhance the efficiency of crop cultivation by enabling direct injection of fertilizers into the irrigation system.

Mr. Bradbury Browne, the Irrigation Specialist overseeing the project, made emphasis on the importance of this installation. “We are at a significant point in the project. We are now able to inject the fertilizer directly into the system, which will definitely make the growing process more efficient.

Mr. Craig Thomas of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) also expressed his satisfaction with the projects progress. He noted, “We can now focus more on the planting aspect of the project which is what will give us the root stock of the rebirthed Antigua Black.”

The rehabilitation of the Pineapple crop at the Cades Bay station, continues to make a great impact on the future increase of readily available planting materials for local producers, which is the main objective of this phase of the project. For the first time at the station, a fertilizer system was installed, aiding the administering of soluble fertilizers to the plants and eliminating antiquated methods of fertilizer application.

The project continues to highlight modern innovative technologies that local producers can adapt to support the overall agricultural sector, not only for pineapple but for other commodities. Several activities are planned for 2025, including the transplanting of another 5,000 plantlets in April and another 1,000 in June. Additionally, with financial support from the Antigua and Barbuda government, plans are in place to ship 50 Antigua Black Pineapple suckers to the tissue culture lab in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in March. This will result in the multiplication of 20,000 tissue culture plantlets, expected to return to Antigua before the end of 2025. These suckers will be sourced from several local Antigua Black Pineapple producers who will directly benefit from this phase of the project.

Since the start of the project, over 4,000 Antigua Black Pineapples have been planted at the Cades Bay Station. The Ministry of Agriculture is partnering with IICA, which is coordinating the activities under the project also collaborating on this project locally are CARDI and FAO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRESS RELEASE – “NextGenSP”

Caribbean Launches “NextGenSP” Project to Revitalize Sweet potato Production and Boost Food Security

Kingston, Jamaica; St. John’s, Antigua & Barbuda; Castries, St. Lucia – February 26, 2025 – The Next Generation Sweet potato Production in the Caribbean Project (NextGenSP) officially launched today with a hybrid event simultaneously taking place in Jamaica, Antigua & Barbuda, and St. Lucia. This groundbreaking initiative addresses critical challenges in sweet potato production and aims to unlock the crop’s full potential for enhanced regional food security and economic growth.

Sweet potatoes are a vital economic and nutritional resource in the Caribbean, thriving in the region’s tropical climate. However, traditional farming practices, including the continuous use of planting materials from previous production cycles, have led to the accumulation of viruses and pests, resulting in declining yields and impacting crop quality. The NextGenSP project aims to overcome these challenges and enhance the sweet potato’s contribution to local and international markets.

Funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Treaty of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the European Union, the four-year project is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministries of Agriculture and the Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute (CARDI) in Antigua & Barbuda, Jamaica, and St. Lucia.

Kent Coipel, IICA’s Representative in Jamaica, reiterated the project’s focus on building resilience, sustainability, and economic opportunities for farmers across the Caribbean. The regional initiative signifies a unified effort to leverage the sweet potato’s potential, driving agricultural growth and food security in the face of evolving global challenges

The initiative was warmly welcomed by Jamaica’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, who delivered the keynote address. Minister Green emphasized the critical role of sweet potato in regional food security, citing its versatility and potential for import substitution, particularly in addressing the reliance on imported wheat flour and animal feed. He highlighted the significant export potential of Caribbean sweet potatoes, noting Jamaica’s successful exports to markets in Canada, the UK, and other territories, generating US$3 million in 2024. However, he stressed the region’s capacity to significantly expand these figures, particularly given the growing demand in key markets like Canada and the UK.

The project was also lauded by Antigua and Barbuda and St. Lucia. Gregory Bailey, Director of Agriculture in Antigua and Barbuda, underscored the sweet potato’s nutritional benefits and its adaptability to climate change, highlighting its potential for economic diversification. Similar to Minister Green, Kemuel Jn Baptiste, Director of Agricultural Services in St. Lucia, highlighted the export potential of the sweet potato, elaborating on the opportunities for regional and global market expansion.

Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, International Specialist, Crop Production and Innovation, gave an overview of the NextGen SP project, with her presentation centered on the foundational principles of sustainable use and equitable benefit-sharing of plant genetic resources.

Gregg Rawlins, IICA Representative in the ECS in his closing remarks, acknowledged the vital contributions of partnering organizations, including FAO, CARDI, World University Services of Canada (WUSC), and Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI), and stressed the importance of active participation from the Ministries of Agriculture in each country to ensure the project’s success. The initiative is expected to address key challenges in sweet potato production, leading to improved food security across the region.

By sharing resources and embracing innovation, NextGenSP is building a stronger, more resilient sweet potato industry for the entire Caribbean region.

To initiate project activities, a project inception meeting with stakeholders and Ministry technicians was held immediately after the launch.

About IICA

IICA is the specialized agency for agriculture in the Inter-American system, with a mission to encourage, promote and support its 34 member states in their efforts to achieve agricultural development and rural well-being through international technical cooperation of excellence.

Contact: Tamara Gentles (876)702-4779/80; tamara.gentles@iica.int

5000 Antigua Black Pineapple Plantlets Transplanted in Phase 2 of Rehabilitation Project by Brent Simon

On February 19th the Antigua Black Rehabilitation Project entered its second phase, with 5000 plantlets successfully transplanted over a two-day period. This event followed extensive land preparation and the installation of an efficient irrigation system. This marks a major step in restoring and expanding the production of this iconic national fruit.

According to Jahmel Ralph/Station Manager at Cades Bay Agricultural Station, these plantlets will serve as foundation of plant material for future propagation, with anticipation and expectation of commercial production to take place in two to three years. He appealed to livestock farmers in the area to respect the project and its surroundings; as free roaming livestock has caused costly damages to the station in the past.

The plantlets returned to Antigua from a lab in St. Vincent, underwent a crucial hardening process at the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) before being transplanted to the field at Cades Bay. With assistance from the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA), pipeline was installed to ensure a steady water supply, essential for the plant’s growth in Antigua’s dry conditions.

Bradbury Browne/ Irrigation Specialist, overseeing the irrigation setup at Cades Bay Agricultural Station, emphasized the importance of this system: “Water management is key to ensuring these young plants establish themselves successfully”, Browne said.

The transplanting process was carried out with precision, to enhance optimal growth and airflow. Technicians and agricultural workers carefully placed the plantlets in their designated rows, following best practices to enhance their survival rate.

The Ministry of Agriculture, in partnership with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), will continue to monitor the plants, implement pest management strategies, and ensure the success of this long-term initiative. By the end of the year, the project is expected to show significant progress towards securing the future of Antigua’s most prized agricultural product “the Antigua Black”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Striving to rehabilitate the Antigua Black Pineapple, IICA and its Partners coordinate the Transplanting of 5000 Tissue Culture Pineapples at Cades Bay Station.

St. John’s, Antigua & Barbuda 19th February 2025 (IICA) The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) with support from the Caribbean Agriculture Research Institute (CARDI), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other key partners coordinated the transferring and transplanting of 5000 tissue culture pineapple plant at Cades Bay Station, which is another milestone under the rehabilitation of the Antigua Black Pineapple project mainly funded under the IICA-Single Fund program. The objective aims to support one of the priority actions under the Ministry of Agriculture which relates to the rapid multiplication of pineapple planting materials to increase production.

Over the past several months several activities were carried out under the project which included procurement of 15,000 Antigua Black Pineapple Tissue cultured plantlets, receipt of plantlets in batches, strict nursery management protocols and land preparation of the project area.

Two weeks ago, CARDI started the hardening process, which entailed getting the plantlets acclimated to the open environmental conditions. The transfer and transplanting of 75 trays (5000 plants) of pineapple plants were completed at the Cades Bay Station on Wednesday 19th February. Those plants will be managed by the Ministry of Agriculture, with technical support from CARDI, IICA and other key partners who will ensure that all the agronomical practices are followed. The additional 10,000 plantlets will be transplanted to Cades Bay over 3-6 months in two intervals based on the age per batch received.

It is anticipated that within 1-2 years those 15,000 plants should be able to produce over 150,000 suckers which will be used for planting materials for pineapple fruit production across Antigua and Barbuda.  In 2025, with financial injection from the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, the project is expected to procure 20,000 tissue-cultured Antigua Black Pineapple, inputs and supplies, which will undertake a series of analytical tests such as DNA fingerprinting.

   

PROJECT UPDATE – 5000 Antigua Black plantlets to be transplanted this week by Carol-Faye Bynoe-George

The third phase of the Antigua Black Rehabilitation Project is scheduled for this week.   The plantlets previously received from the lab in St. Vincent was under the care of technicians for the hardening process.  It is anticipated that after the completion of the hardening stage of the plantlets done at CARDI, the transplanting of 5000 plantlets will be during the 18th and 19th February.  Simultaneously, at Cades Bay Agricultural Station, with the assistance from APUA pipelines for water, under the supervision of Mr. Bradbury Browne the irrigation system and other preparation were done. Today, 17th February, the final phase of the land prepping is in process and near completion.  The Ministry of Agriculture and its partner, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA) are both pleased with the progress of this project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

Local NGO supports Codrington Barbuda with the Introduction of Innovative Hydroponics Initiative by IICA (Antigua)

Codrington, Barbuda. 11th February, (IICA); Building of sustainable agriculture practices, linking SME’s to markets, improving capacities in food safety standards and productivity, strengthening local NGOs and promoting climate smart agriculture, are some of the contributions that will be improved made by Team Buda Corp.

This local NGO formed by Barbudans and is comprised of other members living in the diaspora is a non-profit NGO dedicated to fostering sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation in communities. Their mission is to empower individuals and communities to adopt innovative and environmentally friendly practices that enhance food security, livelihoods, and ecosystem resilience. Through education and collaborative partnerships and capacity-building initiatives, the group strives to create a more sustainable and equitable world where people and nature thrive together.

Through external resources received from the Global Environmental Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Team BUDA Corp with support from local partners and other stakeholders started executing activities under a project twinned with the support from the Sir McChesney George Secondary School entitled The Introduction of Innovative Climate Change Technologies through Hydroponics and Conventional Agriculture through Youth Engagement in Barbuda. The project which will introduce innovative climate smart technologies will be executed over a 12-month period, which will contribute to not only the youths from the agricultural science programme within the school but also the wider farming community in Barbuda.

The project is a collaboration with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation (IICA) along with other partners and stakeholders, seeking to support some key priority actions mandated by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Barbuda Council.

The project output will be to;

  • Output 1: Build technical & social capacity of Increase the technical proficiency of the school staff and students in area such as sustainable agriculture, climate-resilient technologies, and community development by the end of the project.
  • OUTPUT 2:Build capacity and strengthen existing livelihood opportunities and generate sustainable alternatives economic production techniques by the end of the project
  • OUTPUT 3: Disseminate the climate smart approaches using innovative educational and M&E tools and new media approaches, within Antigua and Barbuda to promote wider interest.

IICA through its technical cooperation continues to contribute to strengthening the business and associated capabilities of vulnerable groups, particularly women and youth, which has led to a strengthening of the dialogue among the institute and greater involvement in agriculture.

Since 1992, GEF SGP – UNDPhas embodied the very essence of sustainable development by “thinking globally and acting locally” and serving, in the GEF partnership, a unique role supporting objectives of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in achieving GEF’s mission and mandate to deliver Global Environmental Benefits (GEBs).

The overriding objective of SGP 2.0 is to “Catalyze and mobilize civil society actors and local actions needed to address major drivers of environmental degradation and help deliver multiple benefits across the GEF’s mandated thematic dimensions, while promoting sustainable development and improved livelihoods.”