Dear Editor,
We have noticed that agriculture is really on the move in Guyana, and rightly so. We have the land mass for farming and poultry and we have to make use of this. Well, it seems as though the Ministry of Agriculture is in overdrive as per a press release regarding “the commissioning of the new Tissue Culture Laboratory, a facility that truly represents the spirit of partnership, progress, and people-centered development.”
This is according to Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, who mentioned that the lab “… is a landmark moment in Guyana’s agricultural transformation journey (as it) marks another proud milestone in Guyana’s agricultural transformation journey. In the broader scheme of things, the minister noted that the project “… is a key part of our government’s broader strategy to promote sustainable agricultural development across Guyana. (Since) This Government has consistently prioritized agriculture, recognizing it as a cornerstone of our non-oil economy.”
First let me take up the issue of ‘recognizing it (agriculture) as a cornerstone of our (Guyana’s) non-oil economy.’ In Guyana, we must realise that modern agricultural laboratories are dynamic innovation hubs that integrate advanced digital and biological technologies to promote sustainable, efficient, and resilient food systems. The era of traditional labs is gone and no more there is the limited focus on basic testing and quality control. Modern labs use data analytics, automation, and collaborative research models to address complex challenges like climate change and food security. So, with this upgrade, “Guyana’s agricultural sector has (now) entered a new era with its first-ever Biotechnology Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory, coming at a cost of $450 million with a promise to truly transform local crop production and secure the country’s food future.”
For example, the facility, located at the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), will be able to produce over one million plantlets per year, compared to the previous capacity of just 15,000. A big leap indeed. It will also supply clean, high-yielding, disease-free planting materials for a wide range of crops, including pineapple, citrus, plantain, sweet potato, breadfruit, sugarcane, and even exotic fruits such as strawberries and blackberries.” This envisioning is much needed as agriculture really plays a critical role in developing countries by providing food security, driving economic growth, and reducing poverty. In fact, it is often the largest sector for employment and contribution to GDP, supplying raw materials, creating markets for other industries, and generating foreign exchange through exports.
Editor, we all need to be proud of this lab, as the he United Nations (UN) position on agriculture is centered on achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2: “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture” by 2030. The UN advocates for a comprehensive transformation of global food and agriculture systems to make them more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. This Tissue Culture Laboratory is indicative of Guyana’s trajectory and it fits right into the global scheme of things. It was developed through a partnership between the Government of Guyana and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) of India, and financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) under the Sustainable Agricultural Development Programme (SADP). Confidence must be high as India, already deeply invested in agricultural technology (AgriTech), is experiencing a rapid transformation of its farming sector through various innovation.