Two pervasive crops are poised to make a major contribution to scientific discovery in Barbados, that would result in revolutionary outcomes in nutraceutical and different efficiency functions in addition to practical meals.
Annato (Bixa Orellana), a tropical shrub native to the Americas, and the well-known aloe vera will function prominently in analysis at an agricultural venture at Dukes, St Thomas. The analysis is being carried out by the College of the West Indies at Cave Hill’s Centre for Agricultural Analysis and Innovation (CAGRI) in collaboration with its Division of Organic and Chemical Sciences situated on the campus’ School of Science and Expertise.
The venture marks a major leap within the area’s analysis into nutraceuticals and botanical medicines, positioning Barbados as a pacesetter in sustainable agricultural, innovation, and immersive academic alternatives for college students.
The initiative includes utilizing Annatto, which is famend for its financial and industrial worth, as a fringe crop on the land. Its seeds comprise the pure pigment bixin, answerable for its vivid red-orange hue, broadly used as a pure colorant in meals and beauty industries. The selection of Annatto is not only sensible; its distinct look will make it an unmistakable function of the Dukes panorama. With 100 Annatto crops spaced alongside a 14-acre perimeter, this crop will function a symbolic marker of the land’s new route whereas contributing to the exploration of nutraceutical functions and industrial use.
Aloe vera may also be established at Dukes in a venture involving its scientific investigation to find out probably the most appropriate varieties for functions in industries corresponding to prescription drugs, cosmetics and classes of practical meals. This analysis goals to match aloe varieties with optimum makes use of, enhancing the worth of Barbados’ manufacturing of Aloe and positioning the island on the forefront of Aloe analysis.
UWI college students may also have a chance to work immediately within the discipline, as a part of an immersive studying expertise. College students from the ECOL 3463 Tropical Crop Ecology course are taking part hands-on within the institution and administration of crops at Dukes. Their involvement spans all the course of – from land preparation and planting to ongoing cultivation, soil testing, and pest administration. This dynamic, field-based studying setting permits college students to use classroom data to real-world agricultural challenges, together with germination trials, crop upkeep, and post-harvest processing. Sensible actions additionally embrace monitoring plant progress, assessing soil circumstances, and experimenting with revolutionary mulching strategies to optimise crop yield and high quality.
Along with offering essential hands-on studying experiences for college students, CAGRI’s Dukes venture serves as a dwelling laboratory for researchers. The venture fosters collaborative analysis between UWI and native stakeholders, exploring the potential of botanical medicines and nutraceuticals. Annatto, Aloe vera, and different medicinal crops being cultivated on the website will bear rigorous scientific examine for his or her therapeutic properties and business functions, contributing to the development of prescription drugs, practical meals, and pure cosmetics.
Furthermore, the venture aligns with CAGRI’s mission to create sustainable agricultural options whereas participating with native communities. Partnerships with farmers and stakeholders are integral to the venture, making certain that analysis outcomes translate into real-world advantages, not just for Barbados however for the broader Caribbean area.
Dr. Michele Singh, Director of CAGRI emphasises, “This initiative marks a brand new period for agricultural analysis at UWI. The chance to remodel Dukes Agricultural Land right into a hub of innovation in agribusiness, nutraceuticals, and schooling is unprecedented. The potential for college students to realize sensible abilities, for researchers to push the boundaries of data, and for Barbados to steer the area in sustainable, fashionable agriculture is immense.”
The Dukes Agricultural Land venture is poised to turn into a mannequin of how academia, analysis, and agriculture can merge to handle each native and international challenges. From advancing medicinal plant analysis to empowering the following technology of agricultural scientists, this initiative is a beacon of progress and chance for the area.
