National

Boosting Local Agriculture And Reducing Food Waste

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Alfred Sears commended China’s significant advances in coconut innovation, stating that such developments could play a key role in modernizing agriculture in The Bahamas.

Published

6 months ago

June 1, 2025

Delvardo Emmanuel

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – During his recent visit to the Coconut Research Institute in Hainan Province, Minister of Immigration and National Insurance, Alfred Sears, commended China’s significant advances in coconut innovation, stating that such developments could play a key role in modernizing agriculture in The Bahamas.

Alfred Sears – Minister of Immigration and National Insurance

“The coconut is part of our culture. It is part of our food culture. We make craft, and of course we make some fantastic tropical drinks with the coconut. With the innovation and technology that we see here, which have been developed at the Coconut Research Institute, it is a perfect partnership.”

Sears emphasized that with The Bahamas welcoming over 12 million tourists last year, the country must seek new ways to reduce its reliance on imported food, an expense that exceeded one billion U.S. dollars in 2023.

Alfred Sears – Minister of Immigration and National Insurance

“What we see here and what this partnership can give us is an opportunity to limit the number of imports. That money from import substitution could be applied to education, health, and other development needs.”

The visit was part of the China-CELAC Forum, where ministers from Latin America and the Caribbean came together to discuss shared development goals and functional cooperation strategies.

Alfred Sears – Minister of Immigration and National Insurance

“With respect to the importance of sovereignty, non-interference, and the independence of member countries of the United Nations, this forum especially focuses on shared development, through cooperation not only bilaterally, but also multilaterally.”

Sears drew parallels between Hainan and The Bahamas, noting that both are island economies challenged by tourism pressures and climate change risks. He expressed optimism that The Bahamas could learn much from China’s scientific and technological approach to agriculture.

Plans are currently underway for exchange programs between the University of The Bahamas and Chinese institutions to further strengthen collaboration and knowledge-sharing in agricultural innovation.