National

BAMSI Leads The Charge In Sustainable Farming And Marine Science

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute is merging high-tech innovation with hands-on fieldwork as it strengthens national food security and trains future leaders in agriculture and marine science.

Published

9 months ago

November 13, 2025

Delvardo Emmanuel

Located on an 800-acre campus in San Andros, BAMSI sits at the heart of the natural resources that make Andros the nation’s breadbasket. Fertile soil, freshwater reserves, mangroves, and coastal flats create a live learning environment where students study, farm, and research directly within the ecosystems they aim to protect.

Inside BAMSI’s climate-controlled container farms, the next generation of food production is already underway. Aquaponics manager and head of crops Cameron Lightbourne oversees a hydroponic system producing multiple varieties of premium lettuce grown entirely in water.

Journalists touring the campus saw students actively working in fields, greenhouses, and marine labs. First-year student Carla Dawkins says the program teaches them to mimic natural growing systems by blending crop production with the surrounding native environment. Third-year marine science student Travan Mott says the program deepened his passion for ocean ecosystems and inspired him to advocate for a marine park on his home island.

The lush campus produces a range of crops including lettuce, bananas, peppers, and papayas. BAMSI president Dr. Raveenia Roberts-Hanna says enrollment is now at its highest since the institute opened, with nearly two hundred students across ten degree programs in agriculture, aquaculture, and marine science.

Graduates are finding opportunities both at home and abroad, with alumni studying in countries such as the Netherlands, China, and Japan. Others have launched careers or become agri-entrepreneurs contributing to national food security.

BAMSI continues to position itself as a cornerstone of sustainable development while encouraging Bahamians to reconnect with the land and sea that feed the nation.