Minister Josephine Connolly Visits Primitive Greens Farm In Cayman Islands

Feb 20, 2023

Josephine Connolly, Minister of Tourism, Environment, Fisheries and Marine Affairs, Culture and Heritage, Agriculture, and Religious Affairs, visited the Primitive Greens Containerized Farm in the Cayman Islands on Monday, February 13th, 2023.

A government press release said the government, in its quest to make Turks and Caicos a more food-secure nation, is exploring various avenues to modernize and ensure the country has a consistent food supply.

In the government’s People Plan for Empowerment, it was recognized that "the global food systems are complex, and the volatility of the supply chain, diminishing resources, climate change, geopolitical tensions, and pandemics cause a mismatch between supply and demand." This puts the cost of nutritious food beyond the ability of ordinary people.

Connolly, accompanied by Permanent Secretary Wesley Clerveaux and Director of Agriculture Wilhelmina Kissoonsingh, explored the Primitive Green Farms Containerized Facility and saw firsthand the growing operations. They also were presented with Primitive Greens' plans for expansion, which include the generation of solar energy to support the containerized farm, which would bring the cost of production down so that the price of the produce marketed to consumers will be significantly lower.

A container farm, or freight farm, is a climate-controlled hydroponic farm with a vertical farming system built inside a shipping container that produces a variety of leafy greens. Primitive Farms explained that they produce an average of 1000 heads of lettuce per week out of one shipping container. This is then sent straight to market, so the consumer gets farm-fresh local produce that is pesticide-free and full of nutrients.

The modular and stackable design, which also requires little space compared to traditional farming and can be placed almost anywhere, makes it easier to scale a vertical farming business compared to other farming methods. Primitive Greens' plan to encase a number of containers in a Category 5 hurricane-proof warehouse also means that food production and thus food supply will be uninterrupted if the island is hit by hurricanes.

Connolly, in view of the operation, stated, "The Government remains resolute in its quest to ensure sustainable food security for the Turks and Caicos Islands and our people. The potential of hydroponics, such as the approach presented by Primitive Green, as well as other strategies currently being implemented by the Agriculture Department, including but not limited to promoting and facilitating "Back-Yard Gardening," is a step in the right direction."

The TCI delegation was pleased to see the fully computerized farm and learn about the Primitive Greens plans, which have the potential to not only ensure self-sufficiency in green leafy vegetables, but also to attract young people into agriculture due to the technology. This is critical as we strengthen our engagement with the youth with the recently introduced Agriculture in the Schools initiative.