Under the auspices of RISE Saint Lucia, the project aims to revolutionize food production by removing toxic chemicals and harmful GMOs from the Saint Lucian food chain.
The Ministry of Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Agriculture has partnered with RISE Saint Lucia to host an Organic Farmers Training Workshop.
The workshop is part of RISE’s Good Food Revolution Project which aims to create a national environment that promotes healthy food consumption, revolutionizing food production by removing toxic chemicals and harmful GMOs from the Saint Lucian food chain. It is also a call to action for farmers, retailers and consumers to grow, buy, and consume organic.
The training workshop began on May 3 with a group of 40 farmers. The focus of the workshop was to create an understanding of a farm as an agro-ecosystem; a living ecosystem that produces food.
The first block of training will continue over the next three months with sessions designed to train growers in advanced organic practical techniques following a “field-school” format. To obtain a certificate of completion, participants must start their own organic test plots and document the entire process.
The workshop will also introduce farmers to the organic certification process; to regional and international standards; and to organic business plan development.
The final session will be a forum for growers to put forward and explore ideas to create a vibrant and lucrative organic production industry in Saint Lucia.
Participants will receive donated organic farming supplies and tools, and a three-part manual as incentive for successfully participating in the program.
The Good Food Revolution has to date received funding in part from the UNDP GEF SGP, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA).
