Agriculture Ministry Endorses Jamaicans Eat Programme and Technology Competition

State Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Franklin Witter, has endorsed the Jamaicans Education AgriTech (EAT) Programme and Technology Competition, launched on Thursday (October 16).

Jamaicans EAT is a non-profit initiative designed to tackle the challenges of climate change and food security in Jamaica through innovative, technology-driven solutions.

It offers hands-on training to 94 participants from the University of Technology (UTech) Jamaica, and the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE), in key areas such as hydroponics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Photovoltaic Solar Systems, Manufacturing and Computer-Aided Design (CAD).

Through the initiative, students will compete to design, build, and refine automated hydroponics systems, with the aim of manufacturing and distributing them to five high schools across Jamaica.

Speaking during Thursday’s (October 16) launch at UTech’s main campus in Papine, St. Andrew, Mr. Witter noted that the programme aligns with the Ministry’s new ‘FACE of Food’ initiative, which emphasises strategic planning for food security, agribusiness development, climate-smart technologies, and export expansion.

He highlighted the impact of climate change on Jamaica’s agricultural sector, citing Hurricane Beryl and Tropical Storm Rafael, which devastated parts of the island in 2024.

The State Minister further emphasised the urgent need for innovation as countries worldwide pursue strategies to mitigate climate-related risks.

“I think it is important that we look forward to our innovation in technology and adapt to the climate reality; and part of the adaptation, really, is to look at using greater technology and automation,” Mr. Witter stated.

He described Jamaicans EAT as a “dynamic platform” that integrates engineering, agriculture, and climate resilience while cultivating the next generation of agri-tech investors, poised to lead Jamaica’s agricultural transformation through technology.

“This initiative aims to lessen the impact of climate change on Jamaica’s agricultural system by transforming youth’s perceptions of agriculture through technology-driven solutions. It establishes a collaborative framework among the private sector, government, and educational institutions, creating a model of agricultural innovation that combines academic learning with practical application,” Mr. Witter stated.

Consequently, he commended the initiative and called on stakeholders to lend their full support to the programme.

Jamaicans EAT will be implemented in five phases over a two-year period, culminating in the deployment of scalable hydroponic systems across five Jamaican high schools.

Phase one commenced on October 16, following the opening ceremony, with 94 registered university students enrolled in a two-day intensive training course covering the core areas required to build a hydroponic system.

Following the two-day training, students will be grouped into teams of six to commence phase two, which focuses on system design. During this phase, teams will have continued access to trainers for guidance and technical support.

During phase three, the five shortlisted designs will be developed and tested through crop cultivation. Each team will be required to construct two versions of their hydroponic system – one manually operated and the other automated.

After six months of crop cultivation and iterative system adjustments, the top-performing design will be selected in phase four for further refinement, with the goal of producing a ready-for-market hydroponic system.

The fifth and final phase will see the creation and dissemination of hydroponics learning kits to five secondary institutions.

Director of the Jamaicans EAT initiative, Corrinne Martin, urged the participants to approach the training and competition with seriousness and commitment.

“This is a real deal. We really need people to bring their ‘A’ game, because there is a lot of potential here,” she said.

Ms. Martin noted that the programme’s success could inspire a new generation of agri-tech investors, particularly among the high-school students who will engage with the final products.

“But at the end of the day, what we really want are commercially viable systems that we can put in high schools that are reliable, that the students can also think, ‘Wow, this is a new version of agriculture, this is exciting; and, by the way, I think if I do this to this system, it’ll be even better’,” she maintained.

Ms. Martin added that the winning hydroponic system will be submitted to the Microsoft Imagine Cup, offering participants a chance to win US$100,000.

The Microsoft Imagine Cup is an annual global competition that empowers students to leverage technology in solving real-world challenges.

Thursday’s launch of the Jamaicans Education AgriTech Programme and Technology Competition was held under the theme ‘Transforming Jamaica’s Agriculture Through Technology’.