The food on our tables at breakfast, lunch and dinner is something many of us can easily take for granted. Yet, for millions of people around the world, having enough food is a daily struggle. Even here in Barbados, where supermarket shelves are stocked with food from near and far, the question of how we feed ourselves in the years ahead cannot be ignored.
This World Food Day, observed on October 16, the focus is on the role innovation can play in building stronger food systems. This year’s theme, “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow,” is a timely reminder of the need to find better ways to grow, produce and secure the food we eat.
For Barbados, where much of our food is imported, increasing local production is an important part of that conversation. Limited land, scarce resources and changing weather patterns present challenges for farmers, but new ideas and approaches are creating opportunities to do things differently.
Innovation in agriculture is not just about technology. It is also about finding smarter ways to use available space and resources, improving growing methods and making farming more productive and sustainable.
In a special six-page World Food Day feature, The Nation looks at efforts to strengthen Barbados’ food security, taking readers inside the Ministry of Agriculture’s Indoor Vertical Farm and Ino-Gro Inc., a privately-owned hydroponic farm exploring alternative ways to grow crops.
Their work highlights some of the possibilities for local agriculture, while raising important questions about what it will take to produce more of our own food, reduce our dependence on imports and make farming an attractive option for future generations.
Read more in the Friday, October 16, Weekend Nation, as we explore the people and ideas helping to shape the future of food production in Barbados. (SD)