FFA Research Digest 2019

HOUSEHOLDS’ AWARENESS AND ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN SIDS: THE ASE OF CARRIACOU, GRENADA Afiya Shalla De Sormeaux and Sharon Hutchinson Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Just as the ability to appropriately measure and assess vulnerability to climate change is important to SIDS, so too is adaptation to climate change. The UNFCCC notes that for SIDS, human and financial resource deficits make adaptation to climate change difficult. Identifying successful adaptation options and SIDS-relevant deficits can help these countries better tailor community, regional and country policies to provide more sustainable responses. This is an important first step to reduce the adverse effects of climate change. Nevertheless, research has shown that while SIDS are the lowest contributors to climate change, they are expected to be the most impacted nations when it comes to the negative effects. For SIDS, these negative impacts are in the form of increased temperature in all locations, decreased rainfall in the Caribbean and parts of the Indian Ocean, along with increased rainfall in the Pacific and parts of the Indian Ocean and lastly, increases in the number of extreme events experienced. Finally, research indicates that adaptation to climate change, whether by farmers or householders’ requires that persons first perceive or are aware of a change in their environment. Adaptation to climate change will therefore require multiple strategies at the community, national and international levels, as no single strategy will be sufficient to minimize its effects especially, for SIDS. Consequently, if SIDS are not able to adapt adequately to the effects of climate change, they will face a number of dire environmental, economic and social implications to their livelihoods. Limited financial resources often lead to poor data collection on the state of flora and fauna diversity, as well as resource use by households and household interaction with the natural environment. Where data collection exists, it is sporadic or at a large regional scale, which hides community-specific strengths and weaknesses. As a result, important questions arise: Are households aware of climate and other environmental changes? What factors influence this awareness and adaptation to these changes? What adaptation strategies are being used and should be encouraged? Therefore, this chapter seeks to investigate households’ awareness of and adaptation to climate change. This chapter modelled households’ awareness of climate change in Carriacou, Grenada. The key factors affecting the use of adaptation strategies using a Heckman probit selection model. Results showed that just over half (51%) of the respondents were aware of climate change and most (61%) indicated that a 97

lack of information hindered adaptation. Additionally, age, household size, knowledge of climate change, community location and involvement in crop or livestock livelihoods were significant factors of household use of adaptation strategies to combat perceived negative climate change impacts. Moreover, households who perceived climate change impacts on their community had larger families, greater physical assets, owned a vehicle and had greater knowledge of climate change. Community and government policies should therefore seek to provide greater education on climate change issues, with a focus on low-cost adaptation strategies to help these communities better cope with natural resource declines. This study found that households identified a lack of information as the main reason for not adapting. Therefore, communication strategies in Carriacou should focus on educational campaigns both at the local and island levels. At the local level, a concerted effort should be made to ensure that the message is specific to the needs and requirements of the specific area. Furthermore, these strategies should be highlighted heavily on television and radio media. Given that these were identified as the two main sources households obtained information on climate change from. Additionally, with more knowledge on climate change, households may be able to employ more adaptation strategies that may better meet their needs (minimal cost) and as a result, lessen the adverse effects of climate change. At the time of the survey, households were not utilizing a variety of adaptation strategies which could allow for better minimization of the effects of climate change. Furthermore, ensuring that households obtain a municipal water supply at least to their property should be of highest priority for the authorities. In 2016, a desalination plant was set up in Carriacou to serve primarily the main city of Hillsborough and surrounding communities. This reduced some households’ reliance on rainwater for their daily activities especially given that most noted that decreasing rainfall and increasing droughts pose a threat to their communities. However, additional waster harvesting and water production is needed. 98

FOOD SAFETY 99

EFFECTS OF ON-FARM SANITATION AND HYGIENIC TRAINING OF DAIRY FARMERS ON REDUCTION OF BACTERIOLOGICAL LOADS IN RAW MILK Herzen Graham, Neela Badrie and Marsha Singh Department of Food Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of sanitation and hygiene training (SHT) on improving milk quality through reduction of bacteriological loads. The aerobic mesophilic total plate count (TPC) method was used to determine milk quality before and after SHT was administered. Focus was placed on three key modules of SHT training; sanitation of milking machines, cooling and storage of milk and the milking routine. All 48 of the dairy farms in the study were dispersed across; Turure, Wallerfield, Charlieville, and Carlsen Field within Trinidad. Farm assessment results revealed that non-conformity to the best practices; wiping of the udder after washing, using a post milking teat dip, sanitation of clusters in between milking and freezer maintenance as classified in the modules of SHT training were the four scientifically significant contributors or causes of high TPC results. Post SHT training revealed an 85% improvement in milk quality. Seventy-two percent of improvements were between 0 to 300,000 CFUs which was the overall range for A to C grade as outlined in the study. Thirteen percent (13 %) of improvements were within between 300,001- 999,000 CFUs, deemed as poor and the remaining 15% in excess of 1,000,000 CFUs were categorized as unacceptable. Small farms (< 30 adult cows), contributed to 52 % of TPC issues linked mainly to improper drying of the udder of the animal before milking. Fifty-nine percent (59%) were found in Carlsen Field. Medium farms (30 to 75 adult cows) accounted for 31% incidents related to not using a post milking teat dip. Fifty-five percent (55%) of these farms are from Turure. Large farms (76 to 300 adult cows) contributed to 17% of incidents of which 40% were found in Wallerfield. Overall, 18.75% of farmers experienced improvements from using a post milking teat dip; 4.17% from improving their cooling systems; 18.75 % from proper sanitation of milking machines and 58.3% from proper drying of the udder after washing. Sixty-Four percent (64.5%) of farmers with TPC issues practiced hand milking versus 35.5% who used milking machines for harvesting. However, no major TPC causing factors were observed between both systems. 100

QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF DIFFERENT BRANDS OF ORANGE JUICE LOCALLY PRODUCED BY ENTREPRENEURS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Gail Wells-Ventour, Neela Badrie and Marsha Singh Department of Food Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine The demand by consumers for quality wholesome fresh squeezed all-natural fruit juices and specifically orange juice is now being met successfully by local Entrepreneurs in Trinidad and Tobago. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was any difference in quality of different of brands orange juice (JJ, BF, and FL) produced locally by entrepreneurs in Trinidad and Tobago when assessed using physicochemical and microbiological analysis. Three (3) samples of each brand (n= 9) were purchased each day chilled at 5 ͦ C from point-of-sale vendors, kept chilled (5 ͦ C) in a cooler and transported directly to the laboratory, refrigerated at 5 ͦ C and assessed in triplicate over four days. In total, thirty-six samples (36) were used with twelve (12) control samples. Results of the physicochemical tests showed the following range of values with significant (p < 0.05) difference in means between the juices when compared with the dependable variables for pH (3.4-3.9), ͦ Brix or soluble solids (12.3-14.8 %), vitamin C (5.9 – 54.8 mg), total acidity (0.3 – 1.0 g), colour L* (61.0 – 66.2) and b* (20.6 – 28.0). There was no difference between means for the colour a* (p > 0.05). The vitamin C content was highest in the control (54.8 mg) and lowest in the FL sample (5.9 mg) or (11%) while the BF sample (12.4 mg) or (23%) did not comply with the 55% vitamin C claim on the label. Both FL and BF samples had the lowest acidity levels (0.3 g), while the ͦ Brix was highest in the JJ sample (14.8 %) which was above the Codex standard (11.8%) for a fresh orange juice. All juice samples tested positive for the colour yellow and had a good microbial quality which was below log 5 10 APC CFU/ml. Among the juice samples the JJ sample was the better quality juice while FL was of poor quality. 101

EFFECTS OF ALCOHOLIC EXTRACTS OF SELECTED HERBS AND SPICES ON FOOD-BORNE PATHOGEN BIOFILMS Kerressa Scott, Isabel Blackman, Neela Badrie and Marsha Singh Department of Food Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine With an increasing level of food-borne diseases being reported in the region, it is imperative that there is further advance in research and development of novel drugs. In nature, bacteria may exist as a planktonic cell or as a biofilm. Antimicrobial resistance, however, is associated with the presence of biofilms and is an increasingly serious threat to global public health. The growth of biofilm, in both food processing and natural environments, has led to increased microbial contamination of processed products. The use of antimicrobials and drugs derived from plant sources are increasingly more accepted in mainstream medicine. Using antibacterial assay, alcoholic extractions from Pimenta dioica berries, Capsicum chinense ‘Trinidad Scorpion Butch T’, Blighia sapida pods (ackee), Plectranthus amboinicus (Broad-leaf thyme), Cymbopogon citratus (fever grass) and Azadirachta indica (Neem) have been explored for potential antibacterial activities as a viable alternative to traditional drugs and antibiotics in response to the increasing antibacterial resistance globally. The Kirby-Bauer method was used to determine the zone of inhibition exhibit by extracts when tested against pond water, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration determined for extracts that allowed for bacterial susceptibility. Plectranthus amboinicus was significantly effective against pond water with inhibition zone of 6.00±1.29mm. Its effect however was negligible against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. When tested against pond water, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus: Pimenta dioica had inhibition zones of 2.75±0.25, 2.83±0.17 and 2.83±0.31mm, respectively; Blighia sapida had inhibition zones of 2.00±0.00, 2.17±0.17 and 2.33±0.21mm; while the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T had inhibition zones of 1.00±0.26, 1.50±0.22 and 1.17±0.40mm, respectively. Meanwhile, Cymbopogon citratus and Azadirachta indica allowed for no bacterial susceptibility. More research should therefore be done to explore the potential of these plants as viable antibacterial agents particularly the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T’ and the ackee pods that have not been previously researched for their antibacterial properties. 102

THE FOOD SAFETY PERCEPTION AND HANDLING PRACTICES OF CONSUMERS IN CONJUNCTION WITH A MICROBIAL ACCELERATED SHELF LIFE STUDY ON THREE LOCALLY SELECTED VEGETABLES Nadia Ali, Isabel Blackman, Neela Badrie, Marsha Singh and George Legall Department of Food Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine This study focused on consumer’s perception of food safety and their food handling practices of local vegetables at home in Trinidad. It provided a better understanding as to what actions can contribute to food spoilage and the knowledge level consumers have towards ensuring the safe consumption of food items. A 22 item food safety questionnaire revealed that vegetable purchasing consumers do in fact contribute to the increase in foodborne illnesses, as a great lack of knowledge was placed on proper time/temperature control and unsafe storage practices for vegetable items. From a total of 60 respondents, approximately 71.7% of the participants were more knowledgeable of hygiene practices, 18.3% knew of the ideal storage temperatures, while 90% knew the importance of separating different food items. All participants indicated that vegetables are washed before use, however, only 23.3% practiced the proper washing method. Results also indicated that demographic factors, such as gender can contribute to food safety as female participants were more educated and less risky with their behavior towards food safety. An experimental designed was also assessed to determine if improper food practices can contribute to the prevalence and microbial load of Escherichia coli and serotype (presumptive) Escherichia coli O157:H7, (presumptive) Staphylococcus aureus, yeast and molds and a loss in shelf-life quality of fresh unprocessed vegetables (namely sweet- pepper, tomato and cucumber) when stored for 3 weeks at an accelerated temperature. A high total aerobic plate count (˃ 300 CFU/g) was detected during the second and third week of storage at 32˚C on the tested vegetables. While the detection of the other organisms was achieved using the spread plate method, were the presence of E. coli was only indicated in sweet-pepper samples during the third week at dilution 10-5 (1.56 x 10-7 CFU/g). E. coli O157:H7 was identified in sweet-pepper and cucumber samples during the second and third week, while all samples were negative for S. aureus. There was a high presence of yeast and mold growth on all samples throughout the 3 weeks of storage. Mould growth and other deteriorating changes rapidly developed and altered the organoleptic characteristics of the cut and whole vegetables just after 4 days of storage. Therefore, this study was intended to demonstrate that the consumption of unwashed vegetables can contain the 103

presence of pathogenic microorganisms and can present a great health risk to consumers if improper food safety handling is practiced. INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF IMPLEMENTED FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS IN A SPREADS PROCESSING COMPANY FOOD SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM David Fullerton, Neela Badrie and Marsha Singh Department of Food Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine This research was structured as a first party audit for a transnational food company, which has been mandated by the global head office to achieve food safety certification. This qualitative study of the ‘Spreads’ processing facility, investigates the effectiveness of the food safety management system. Microbiological and physical hazards such as moulds and foreign objects poses the main risk to spreads. The research focused on the facility’s implemented standards for the Prerequisite Programs (PRPs), Operational Prerequisite Programs (OPRPs) and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) PRPs were investigated by the use of a checklist generated from the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), “General Principles of Food Hygiene”. Information was gathered by staff discussions, photographs, physical inspections and internal documentation reviews. The Codex decision tree was used to review the HACCP plan, microbiological and physical hazards were identified. Application of the HACCP approach determined the Critical Control Points (CCP), critical limits and OPRPs. PRP components were classified as ‘acceptable’, ‘minor’, ‘major’ and ‘critical’ non-conformance respectively. Over eighty-eight percent (88%) of the PRPs were acceptable. Major non-conformances at the premise were the uneven gradient flooring, presence of glass items, cracks in the walls and a leak in the roof. The hazard analysis identified two critical control points: milk pasteurisation and milk storage. The critical limit for pasteurisation was at seventy-two degrees Celsius for fifteen minutes. The critical limit for the storage of the pasteurised milk was at ten degrees Celsius for a maximum time limit of four hours. The eight (8) OPRPs identified were all in line filters between the various transfer vessels. Filters were the established risk reducing measure used to limit physical hazards from contaminating the spreads product. Documentation of records, corrective actions and verifications procedures were all discussed in the study. Recommendations towards the improvement of the facility were proposed. 104

MICROBIAL EVALUATION AND POINT OF CONTAMINATION OF RAW VS. PASTEURIZED MILK FROM TWO (2) REGIONS IN TRINIDAD Dana Balraj, Neela Badrie, Marsha Singh, George Legall and Rudranath Singh Department of Food Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine Recently, goat’s milk and its products have been growing in popularity in Trinidad primarily for its ease in digestibility and low allergenic potential. Farm management is crucial in the production of safe products and should be put at the forefront to eliminate any potential risks to the public. Farm assessments were carried out on two farms North and South Trinidad utilizing a checklist where information was obtained through interviews and general observations of animal husbandry, milking process, storage etc. Milk samples were also collected to quantify total plate count (TPC) while the presence of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella were detected along with physical parameters such as pH, total solids and colour were evaluated in both raw and pasteurized milk. Most practices were acceptable, however non-compliance was revealed in animal health, milk hygiene and milking which reflected on the microbial quality of the milk. Hand milking in Farm B accounted for a higher bacterial load (5.23 logs CFU/ml) when compared to machine milking in Farm A (3.36 logs CFU/ml). Farm A had a consistent regime in overall sanitary practices pre and post milking when compared to Farm B e.g. back washing animals, mastitis detection, treatment and prevention. Farm B was in non-compliance to animal health as isolation of sick goats and administration of medication were mismanaged. The total bacteria levels of Farm A were in accordance with the Malaysians Food Act and Food Regulations (<5.0 log CFU/ml) while Farm B was just above this limit. Staphylococcus spp. and E.coli were identified in milk samples from both farms while Salmonella was detected in Farm B; nevertheless a significant difference was observed in microbial content after pasteurization in Farm A (p=0.001) and Farm B (p=0.001; 0.002). Heat treatment such as pasteurization and sterilization before consumption are vital to manage the microbial contaminants in goat milk. pH and total solids showed no significant difference in both locations however farm B showed significant difference between the raw and pasteurized milk in readings ‘a’ (p value 0.002) and ‘b’ (p value 0.046). The improving of milk quality needs special attention as training and education of famers needs to be implemented in order to produce safe products for the public to consume. 105

FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY CHECKLIST – EVALUATION ON A LOCAL POULTRY PLANT TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE USING A HACCP PLAN IN MEETING INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, WHILE INTEGRATING AN INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL CHECKLIST Lizanda Gookool, Neela Badrie and Marsha Singh Department of Food Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine One of the most common public health concerns are foodborne illnesses. Microbial food safety is increasing worldwide and many local and international institutions, governments and other agencies have been developing techniques to eliminate food borne pathogens in the poultry industry. Gallus gallus (chicken) are domesticated birds and is one of the most consumed meats in the Caribbean as it’s a major source of protein with significant amount of microorganisms such as Campylobacter, Salmonella and Escherichia .coli. The study evaluated how a local poultry farm, determined food safety and quality assurance using a HACCP system and also compared a developed international checklist and an available local checklist to determine food safety effectiveness. A Prerequisite Program (PRP) was developed from both checklist which was suitable for handling production in the poultry plant. It looked directly into location, premise/room, equipment, water supply, maintenance and cleaning, pest control, waste management, sanitation control, personal hygiene, traceability, training, storage and transportation showing that were in conformance. The HACCP critical control point system determined raw material at reception, process water, ice and packaging material that consisted of biological, chemical and physical hazards which may cause threats to human health can occur through the production of the poultry from farm to table, captured hazards and critical control points. The decision matrix steps allowed further allowed the process of raw material, ante-mortem inspection, scalding, de-feathering, head and limb removal, evisceration, carcass, final rinse, draining, deboning/cutting, grinding, chopping, forming, boiling, packaging and distribution and answered the questions of does the step involve a hazard sufficient risk and severity warrant to control, ensuring preventative measure for the hazards that exist at this step and steps to eliminate. Raw material, packaging, distribution and raw material were the only three that had critical control points because of pathogens, antibiotics and foreign material. Results showed 106

that these risk can be eliminated for the safety level of the consumer. The HACCP controlled chart found that reception of carcass, boiling water, final rinse, packaging and storage and distribution to be critical for cross contamination but had a monitoring procedure which was frequent in ensuring the hazards antibiotic residue, pathogens, physical contaminants and microbial growth had corrective measures with proper recording and verification. While the plant is not HACCP certified most of the employees are HACCP certified and trained. Recommendations were made to have them certified while sharing communication to the public on food borne illnesses while limitations were based on confidential information not given out, interacting with the plant employees and time constraint with the QC manager. The findings suggest that the checklist and HACCP system is effective in assuring food safety and quality assurance. 107

THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL FRUIT CONCENTRATES (SYRUPS) DERIVED FROM LOCAL TROPICAL FRUITS AS ALTERNATIVE SWEETENERS: PRODUCTION FEASIBILITY, PHYSIO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE Kiah Philip, Neela Badrie and Marsha Singh Department of Food Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Alternative sweeteners have grown in popularity over the past few years due to postulated negative correlations between the consumption of high amounts of refined sucrose and the incidence of many non-communicable diseases. This research project focused on the feasibility of development (in terms of product yield and SWOT analysis), refrigerated shelf life and consumer acceptance of alternative sweeteners (syrups) using local tropical fruits; namely pineapple (Ananas comosus), sapodilla (Manilkara zapota) and two cultivars of mango (Mangifera indica): Julie and Graham, which are often wasted. The juices of these local tropical fruits were condensed via evaporation into thickened syrups without the addition of additional preservatives, sugars, chemicals or dyes. Assessment of the cost of raw materials versus the volumes of syrups obtained showed that The Julie mango syrup was found to be the most feasible to produce whereas the sapodilla syrup was found to be the most expensive to produce. The syrups were tested for microbial growth and physiochemical changes (Brix, pH, colour, consistency and water activity on days 2, 9, and 16 and on days 2, 11 and 18 after production respectively). Consumer acceptance evaluation was done on the second day of making a fresh, separate batch of syrups via a subjective sensory evaluation using 65 untrained voluntary panellists who were asked to rank on a 4-point scale various organoleptic properties (colour, smell, taste and consistency) as well as indicate their overall preference and overall likeness of the syrups on a nine-point hedonic scale. Standard plate count was negligible for the first 2 weeks but major signs of growth occurred at week three (day 16) for the Graham mango and Sapodilla syrups, with <10 CFU/ml. being observed in the Julie mango syrup and none in the pineapple syrup. Physiochemical testing showed the pineapple, Graham mango and Julie mango syrups all decreased in firmness, consistency and cohesiveness whereas the sapodilla syrup showed opposite effects. All of the syrups showed darkening of their colour and slight variations in; Brix (only the Julie mango syrup showed a significant (P<0.05) difference with a decrease), significant differences in pH of the Graham and Julie mango syrups where the pH of both initially increased then decreased) and water activity (only the 108

Graham mango syrup showed a significant difference where the water activity slightly increased then decreased). Sensory testing for the organoleptic properties analysed via SPSS showed that there were significant differences in all tested parameters except for the flavour preference. On a 9- point scale, SPSS analysis showed the pineapple syrup was the most liked, followed by the sapodilla syrup, Julie mango syrup and the Graham syrup was the least accepted syrup. Issues in production are presented in the seasonality and variability of the tastes of the selected fruits which would lead to consistency issues of the syrups. More research has to be done to determine more details about the syrups (exact chemical composition, further microbial work, variation on production methods) as to determine how to produce the best products with the longest shelf life possible. Although they have a relatively short shelf life as compared to commercially available syrups with refined sugar being without preservatives and were widely accepted by consumers in the study, the syrups would be suitable sustainable nutritive alternative sweeteners which would utilise readily available and under- utilised tropical commodities. 109

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DISENTANGLING DISTANCE AND COUNTRY EFFECTS ON THE VALUE OF CONSERVATION ACROSS NATIONAL BORDERS Fatemeh Bakhtiari1,3, Jette Bredahl Jacobsen1, Bo JellesmarkThorsen1, Thomas Hedemark Lundhede1.4, Niels Strange1, Mattias Boman2 1Department of Food and Resource Economics, Centre for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark 2Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, 3UNEP DTU Partnership, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark 4Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa, Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development, University of Pretoria, South Africa Coordination of conservation policies and conservation actions between countries is expected to reduce overall costs and increase effectiveness. It rests on the assumption that, as a global public good, the provision of biodiversity conservation is independent of geographical and political jurisdictions. However, from a welfare economic perspective this assumption requires testing and justification. Indeed, distance may matter, as may the country of provision. This study applies a choice experiment to estimate individuals' marginal willingness to pay for comparable biodiversity conservation measures and outcomes across country borders, and with different distances from their place of residence to conservation locations in Denmark and in Southern Sweden. The case is designed to distinguish the effect of distance from the effect of country of residence versus country of provision. We find a clear and distinguishable effect of both location and country of provision. We find distance-related attributes to reflect bridge tolls and per-kilometre transport costs, and Swedes and Danes to prefer provision in their own country, over provision in the neighbouring country. The results of this study may be useful in discussing cooperation on regional and even global biodiversity conservation efforts. Source: Ecological Economics, 147, Bakhtiari, F., Bredahl Jacobsen, J., Jellesmark Thorsen, B., Hedemark Lundhede, T., Strange, N. & Boman, M., Disentangling Distance and Country Effects on the Value of Conservation across National Borders, pp. 11-20, 2018, with permission from Elsevier. 111

APPLYING THE DELPHI METHOD TO ASSESS IMPACTS OF FOREST MANAGEMENT ON BIODIVERSITY AND HABITAT PRESERVATION Anna Filyushkina1.2, Niels Strange1, Magnus Löf2, Eugene E. Ezebilo3, Mattias Boman4 1Department of Food and Resource Economics & Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen, Denmark 2Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden 3Property Development Program, National Research Institute, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea 4Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine This study applied a structured expert elicitation technique, the Delphi method, to identify the impacts of five forest management alternatives and several forest characteristics on the preservation of biodiversity and habitats in the boreal zone of the Nordic countries. The panel of experts consisted of a number of scientists in the field. The data was collected using a semi- structured questionnaire distributed via e-mail in two rounds. Our findings demonstrated that an increase in management intensity for timber production is likely to have a negative effect on the biodiversity and habitats with intense management alternatives such as a “clear-cutting system” resulting in the strongest adverse impact. The presence of deadwood, mixture of trees of different sizes and increase in stand age were expected to promote preservation of biodiversity and habitats. However, there was little agreement between experts regarding the functional form that relationships between preservation of biodiversity and forest characteristics take. The Delphi method was found useful in investigating the existing knowledge base and capable of contributing to a more comprehensive assessment for decision support as a valuable addition to on-going empirical and modeling efforts. The findings could assist forest managers in developing forest management strategies that generate benefits from timber production while taking into account the trade-offs with biodiversity goals. Source: Forest Ecology and Management, 409, Filyushkina, A., Strange, N., Löf, M., Ezebilo, E.E. & Boman, M., Applying the Delphi method to assess impacts of forest management on biodiversity and habitat preservation., pp. 179-189, 2018, with permission from Elsevier. 112

CAN HAPPINESS BE A WELFARE INDICATOR? VALIDITY TESTING USING SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS Mattias Boman1, Niels Strange2, Bengt Kriström3, Ståle Navrud4, and Stephan Moonsammy1 1Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food & Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine 2Department of Food and Resource Economics and Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark 3Centre for Environmental and Resource Economics and Department of Forest Economics, SLU, Umeå, Sweden. 4School of Economics and Business, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway The purpose of this paper is to use accuracy testing to assess whether an empirical happiness (well-being) measure possesses properties of a welfare indicator. If this was the case, it would open up possibilities for applied environmental welfare analysis using well-being data in combination with secondary data from national accounting statistics and international organisations to value ecosystem service provision, sustainable development, and environmental performance. This would be particularly useful in a low income country context where funds for empirical valuation data collection are often very constrained. Accuracy was assessed by studying whether well- being scores from the World Happiness Report correlate with variable(s) that can plausibly be claimed to be associated with true welfare (or welfare change). Empirical data on genuine savings (the World Bank’s adjusted net savings) and sustainable consumption were used for this purpose, as they have a theoretical foundation in welfare economics. Convergent validity was not supported, whereas there was some support for theoretical validity. More testing of different well-being measures for accuracy, and a solid welfare theoretic interpretation, is needed to empirically flesh out whether measures can possibly serve as indicators for applied welfare analysis. Source: Paper Presented at: EAERE 2019 - 24th Annual Conference of the European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK, 26th-29th June 2019. 113

STATE-OF-THE ART VALUATION OF WETLAND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW WITH AN EMPHASIS ON FUTURE RESEARCH NEEDS Stephan Moonsammy, Mattias Boman, Vidwatee Ramdhanie, and Donna-Marie Renn- Moonsammy Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine The quality of valuation research in developing countries are considered poor primarily because of inappropriate research designs, improper research administration and a lack of validity and reliability assessment. Quality valuation research should at least adhere to the state-of-the-art guidelines established for the various valuation techniques. This study seeks to review existing valuation literature for Small Island Developing States focusing on wetland ecosystems and ecosystem services. The study was done as a systematic review using valuation literature sourced from online sources. Studies were considered if they adopted a stated preference, reveal preference or benefits transfer technique within a wetland ecosystem in a small island state. The literature was analysed using the contemporary state-of-the-art guidelines most widely used in current valuation literature. The results showed that the majority of the studies did not use probability sampling or conduct validity and reliability assessments. The literature analysed also showed no adoption of any of the benefits transfer techniques. The valuation literature for SIDS reveals that the value estimates for these studies may not be credible or viable for policy application as there is no validation or reliability measure to identify if the studies are theoretically, methodologically and empirically sound. Source: Paper presented at: EAERE 2019 - 24th Annual Conference of the European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK, 26th-29th June 2019. 114

SUSTAINABILITY IN A SMALL ISLAND FOSSIL FUEL DEPENDENT ECONOMY: THE CASE OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Mattias Boman1, Stephan Moonsammy2 and Lendel Narine3 1Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food & Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine 2 Department of Environmental Studies, Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Guyana, Georgetown, Guyana. 3 College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, Utah State University, United States of America The purpose of this paper was to empirically estimate the sustainability of a non-renewable resource dependent island economy. A necessary condition for weak sustainability is indicated by non-negative Genuine Savings (GS) and reproducible capital stocks being as productive as non-renewable capital. The gap between actual reproducible capital stock and the steady state level of total capital is then minimized. The actual trend of GS in Trinidad and Tobago indicated divergence from a sustainable path. Output in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) was found to be positively affected by non- renewable resource extraction, whereas labour contributed negatively and reproducible capital had an insignificant effect. While investments in the reproducible stock are required, productivity in the reproducible capital and labour should also be increased. 115

CAN SAMPLE MEDIAN WILLINGNESS TO PAY ESTIMATE TRUE POPULATION MEAN WILLINGNESS TO PAY UNDER VALUATION UNCERTAINTY? A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE Mattias Boman Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine This paper reviews the contingent valuation literature on hypothetical bias and valuation uncertainty, with special emphasis on measures of central tendency suitable for applied welfare analysis. It is well known that in a theoretical scenario without valuation uncertainty, population mean willingness to pay (WTP) is the appropriate welfare measure. It is argued here that this may not hold under valuation uncertainty, and that in this case true maximum mean WTP should be bounded by hypothetical mean WTP and actual mean WTP. Hypothetical median WTP is found to fall in this range through a review of existing studies. It is therefore suggested that new contingent valuation studies should consider using the hypothetical median as an estimator of true maximum mean WTP. This could be a simple way of dealing with hypothetical bias e.g. in low income countries, where the possibility of financing elaborate research designs accounting for valuation uncertainty is limited. It can also prove useful to revisit existing contingent valuation studies with these findings in mind. 116

DETERMINANTS OF FOOD SECURITY AMONG LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN NORTH-EAST TRINIDAD Francis-Granderson, C. Pemberton, H. Patterson-Andrews, M. Webb, A. Mc Donald, K. Rocke and A. De Sormeaux Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies St. Augustine This study examined the determinants of the food security status of low income households in North-East Trinidad. Food security status was assessed using the 18-item U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The sample consisted of caregivers of primary school children aged 7-12 years who reside in two regions (St. Andrew-St. David and St. George East) in North-East Trinidad. There were 304 respondents, 90.13% female and 9.87% male. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between food security status and household socio-demographic characteristics. Results show gender, marital status and income were the only three useful predictors of household food insecurity. Gender and marital status were both positive and significant at the 0.05 significance level. The coefficient for income was negative and significant at the 0.05 significance level. This study found that more female-headed households participated in the study and were more food insecure as compared with male-headed households; additionally, females were more likely to experience mild and moderate food insecurity with hunger. Source: Farm and Business 2018, Vol. 10, Issue 2 117

AN EVALUATION OF THE RELATIVE PROFITABILITY OF COCONUT FARMING IN GUYANA Ida Sealey-Adams1, Carlisle Pemberton2, Hazel Patterson- Andrews2 and Afiya De Sormeaux2 1Guyana Marketing Corporation, Guyana 2Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine This study examined the average profitability of coconut farming in Guyana, as this is a major crop associated with agricultural diversification and improving the level of food security in Guyana, both through the provision of income for improved access to food for farmers, as well as providing food products for the Guyanese households. The main objective of the study was to compare the average profitability of the two main producing agro-climatic zones of Guyana the coastal area or Regions versus the riverain or Pomeroon area (in Region 2). The study also sought to discover the factors that determine the average profitability of the coconut farming. Primary data were collected from 201 coconut producers from the two major producing areas. A regression model was used to discover the factors that significantly determine the profit per acre of coconut farming. The results indicated that the variety of coconut grown and the total labour cost were the most significant variables in determining the average profitability of coconut production. The age of the farmer and his/her educational level also tended to affect the average profitability of the farms. The Chow test carried out indicated a structural difference between the two areas of coconut production with respect to the average profitability of coconut production, whereby the tall variety of coconut was present on a significantly greater number of farms in the Coastal area, than in the Pomeroon area, which had farms with higher average profitability and dwarf varieties. These dwarf varieties allowed a wider range of coconut products including coconut water. These results help to explain the developments in the coconut industry in Guyana where the Pomeroon is now touted to become “the coconut capital of Guyana”, and coconut water the “national drink”. Source: Farm and Business, 2018, Vol. 10, Issue 2 118

DEEPENING THE UNDERSTANDING OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE RELATIONS AND FLOWS: ADVANCING METHODS AND TECHNIQUES FOR TRADE POLICY ANALYSIS Omardath Maharaj Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Policymakers and trade negotiators are often faced with an array of critical factors, simultaneously, when negotiating trade agreements and arrangements. The use and reliance on existing trade policy analysis tools such as gravity modeling pose further challenges. The possibility for unintended economic and social consequences associated with misspecification and policy failure and their elusiveness in giving a simple, yet comprehensive set of information has led to this Study. The primary objective is to develop a more comprehensive methodology which can be used in the evaluation and negotiation of international trade. The major output is a Trade Model Indicator (TMI) built on a normalized and weighted array of trade indices and indicators. It incorporates several key dimensions of international trade and decision-making including: Logistics Performance, Power and Communications, Public Policies and Institutions, Fragile Situations (Crime), Science and Technology, and Finance. The TMI is presented from a two-tier perspective which can be applied to a single economy, country pair or several economies linked as a regional group. It provides a collection of useful formulae for calculation and offers information for policy planning and analysis. The TMI allows for analysis of the industry-level and product-level performance. It assists in identifying key sectors for sectoral adjustment and development. The study applies the TMI to three international scenarios and uses the gravity estimations as a benchmark for its verification and validation. In the case of CARICOM and CACM, the results provide a basis to inform any negotiation process, both in the trade arena and the level of trade development and readiness required across regions. The introduction of this methodology creates a new, robust, and comprehensive information tool for trade negotiation and policymaking. This Study adds to the body of research associated with analysing regional and international trade and outward orientation. PhD in Agricultural Economics Thesis Summary – 2019 119

WAS MALTHUS RIGHT OR JUST UNLUCKY? A POSTHOC ANALYSIS OF THE MALTHUSIAN CATASTROPHE Govind Seepersad1, Ardon Iton1, Dave Goorahoo2, Omardath Maharaj1, Lennox Sealy1 1Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies 2Department of Plant Science, Jordon College of Agricultural Science and Technology, Fresno State University, California Thomas Robert Malthus 1798, in “An Essay on the Principle of Population” expressed concern about population outstripping food supply. He theorized that human populations grew in geometric progression while food production increased in arithmetic progression. Thus, he concluded that populations will grow faster than the supply of food, leading to food shortage and human death. Natural forces will correct the imbalance between food supply and population growth in the form of natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes and man-made actions such as wars and famines. Could Malthus have been right or just unlucky? This paper takes a historical review of the Malthusian catastrophe to determine whether this could have ever happened. It closes with policy recommendations that may be applicable to the Caribbean Region. Source: Paper Presented at the 33rd West Indies Agricultural Economics Conference of the Caribbean Agricultural Economics Society, August 4-9, 2019. Mt Irvine Hotel, Tobago. 120

DETERMINATION OF GLOBAL COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE IN THE CITRUS PRODUCTS TRADE Govind Seepersad1, Srinivasa Konduru2, Omardath Maharaj1, Dave Goorahoo2 1Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of The West Indies 2Department of Plant Science, Jordon College of Agricultural Science and Technology, Fresno State University, California Brazil (São Paulo), the USA (Florida) and Italy continue to be three major processed orange producing regions in the world. Brazil focuses on FCOJ of 65% brix. The USA produces FCOJ and FCGJ (42% or varied brix and from both local and imports), and Chilled Juice (single strength) while Italy produces Orange Juice, Lemon Juice and Mandarin/Clementine Juice. The processed orange consumption is concentrated in the developed countries of North America and Europe, which collectively account for over 90% of world consumption. Markets for processed orange products appear to be developing in other regions, particularly Latin America. This paper examined the export market for Frozen Concentrated Orange Juice FCOJ. The changes in volumes were assessed as well as revealed comparative advantage. It was found that while production as well as trade of fruits both expanded by 106% over the 1981/82 to 2013/14 period, the trade in processed products grew by only 29%. Increased imports of processed oranges have largely centred around Europe and the USA. The results show that the USA lost its RCA while Brazil gained its RCA for the respective products. In the case of Italy, the comparative advantage was highly variable. Source: Paper Presented at the 33rd West Indies Agricultural Economics Conference of the Caribbean Agricultural Economics Society, August 4-9, 2019. Mt Irvine Hotel, Tobago. 121

DETERMINATION OF DRIVERS: INFLUENCE OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR ON LEGUME CONSUMPTION AND PLACE OF ORIGIN Michael Sylvester Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine This paper, based upon a quantitative study on individuals in Trinidad, looks to identify the drivers that affect consumer behaviour with regards to legume purchasing and consumption. It also looks to determine if results from data collection methods for the study would differ for face-to-face and online methods. It is found that certain socio-economic and demographic factors affect the quantity of leguminous vegetables purchased and the location in which these legumes are acquired. A randomized distribution of surveys was distributed both face-to-face and online, these surveys were used to determine the demographic and socioeconomic factors that affects the purchasing and purchasing location of legumes. Particularly the information obtained was used to identify: if income influenced the expenditure on legumes, if gender influenced the location of legume purchases, whether education level influenced the location of purchases and if the results from face-to-face data collection methods would differ from the online method. Results suggested that: individuals who earned over a certain income level preferred to spend more on legumes, females purchased legumes at a particular location, persons who possessed a minimum of a secondary level education level preferred to purchase legumes at particular locations and there was no difference between the online and face-to-face data collection methods. Source: Paper Presented at the 33rd West Indies Agricultural Economic Conference, Caribbean Agro-Economic Society August 04th -9th, 2019 Mount Irvine Bay Resort, Tobago 122

TRINIDAD AND DOMINICA FISHERS’ WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR LIFE INSURANCE Sharon D. Hutchinson and Cee-Jay Edwards Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine Fishers face the risk of personal injury and loss of life caused by collusions, piracy, engine failure, rough sea and winds etc. everyday. This study aims to: Determine what percentage of fishers are willing to pay for life insurance in Trinidad and Dominica; Determine the mean amount fishers in Dominica and Trinidad are willing to pay for life insurance; Examine the reasons fishers are unwilling to pay for life insurance; and Examine the factors that affect the amount fishers are willing to pay for life insurance. Fisheries’ life insurance is one of the risk management tools that transfer risk and enhance fishers’ safety in their daily operations. Currently there is yet to be such a product specialized for the regional fisheries sector, despite the continuous problem of fishers experiencing personal injury and loss of life from collisions, piracy and turbulent weather conditions. In Dominica, fishers from various landing sites across the island were surveyed to investigate fisherfolks’ point of view and demand for a life insurance product. Using the Contingent Valuation Method and a Logit Model, the study explores the factors that affect willingness to pay for life insurance and estimated the mean willingness to pay. These factors include: age, education, fishing experience, income, fraction of income from fishing, ethnicity, vessel age, average number of crew members, duration at sea and ownership of a credit card. Thus, it is recommended that pioneering fisheries life insurance products and the appropriate delivery channels will increase demand amongst current fisherfolk and encourage young entrants into the fisheries sector. 123

TRINIDAD AND DOMINICA FISHERS’ WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE Kathleen Blackman, Sharon D. Hutchinson, Carlisle Pemberton and Hazel Patterson-Andrews Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of The West Indies In addition to the loss experienced from natural disasters such as hurricanes and storms, which may have wide national impact, and for which broad-scale insurance coverage is needed, there is a widening gap to look at the provision of health insurance to fishers. Health could deteriorate based on the risks faced in fishing, but also due to normal risk. In many instances, fishers are the primary income earners in families and their landings provide both direct and indirect income to their immediate families, and also to extended families and neighbours. This study aims to review the factors which are significant in fishers’ decision to adopt health insurance for themselves, for their families and the potential response of insurers to provide group health insurance. It also assesses the key factors which influence this decision, as well as the factors that their willingness to pay increasing amounts of premiums. Safety measures adopted and socio-economic factors are reviewed. Varied econometric techniques are used to assess’ behavioural outcomes. It is expected that the output of this research will inform the work of fishers’ association, fishery planners and insurance companies, in providing an insurance package that can be sustained to reduce the impact of risk on fishers and their families. 124

ESTIMATING AGGREGATE SEAFOOD IMPORT DEMAND FOR TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO David A. Forgenie1, Sharon D. Hutchinson1 and Ewan Scott2 1Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of The West Indies 2Department of Economics, The Faculty of Social Science, The University of The West Indies Over the last two centuries trade has grown remarkably among nations due to advancement in technology, communication and international trade policy that facilitate corporation between nations. This has holistically transformed the global economy. Presently, about one-fourth of total global production is exported. Understanding this transformative process is important because trade has generated gains, but it has also had important distributional consequences especially upon Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such as death of infant industries, dependence on imports for food and other commodities, decreased national importance in agriculture and change in consumer taste and preference which correlate with those of the importing countries. Fisheries contribute significantly to social and economic livelihood of the Caribbean people, particularly in the coastal communities as it acts are a major source of income and prosperity for the residents. It contributes significantly to employment as thousands of persons are directly or indirectly employed in small scale fisheries and aquaculture, fish processing, retail, boat construction, net repair and related activities. Seafood imports by Trinidad and Tobago have been gradually increasing in recent years. The leading exporting countries include Canada, Chile, China, Ecuador, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. An Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) model will be employed to investigate the import demand for aggregate seafood products using monthly data for a 26-year period (1991-2017). The socio-economic factors that directly affect import demand would be investigated and own-price, cross-price and expenditure elasticities would be calculated. The study also seeks to determine the role that seasonality plays in aggregate seafood import demand. This study seeks to answer the following questions: What are the socio- economic factors that influence the demand for imported seafood? Does seasonality play any significant role in imported seafood demand? What is the relationship between imported seafood and imported meats? The outcome of this study can be used to inform better policy and decision making by the Trinidad and Tobago seafood market. Identifying and understanding the dynamics of imported seafood can give some insight into the consumption market thus identifying the potential for expansion and development of the seafood markets 125

ESTIMATING IMPORT DEMAND FOR IMPORTED SEAFOOD AND DISAGGREGATED MEAT PRODUCTS FOR TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO David A. Forgenie1, Sharon D. Hutchinson1 and Ewan Scott2 1Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of The West Indies 2Department of Economics, The Faculty of Social Science, The University of The West Indies CARICOM food import bill (FIB) continues to increase each year. Trinidad and Tobago is no exception to this as major imported products include wheat, soybean and palm oil, rice, sugar, seafood and chicken. FAOSTAT (2019) notes that the nation imported about 80.855 million USD worth of meat in 2011. In that same year the food import bill was estimated to be about 833 million USD. Historically, seafood consumption per capita in Trinidad and Tobago reached a high of 25.4 kg in 2005. The increase in the per capita consumption according to Mohammed et al. (2019) is primarily due to the importance as a cheap source of protein and the perceived health benefits. Neo-classical consumer theory forms the foundation of demand analysis and modern economic theory of the consumer. It is concerned with the choice that consumers make during their budget allocation activities. It seeks to answer the question of “which consumption basket the consumer will select at the point of shopping and why?” The consumption basket would contain a mix of all goods that the consumer would purchase at given prices subjected to their income. This study seeks to answer the following questions: What is the relationship between imported seafood and differentiated meat products (poultry, beef, pork and lamb)? What are the short-run and long-run disaggregated import demand functions for seafood, poultry, beef, pork and lamb? The Rotterdam and the Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) models will be used to model these impacts. The outcome of this study can be used to inform better policy and decision making by the Trinidad and Tobago meat and seafood market. Identifying and understanding the dynamics among imported seafood and meat can give some insight into how consumers are likely to make trade-off among these products as their income and other socio-economic and trade factors change over time. The research will forecast demand for these disaggregated products, which will be useful for supermarket owners, policy makers and agricultural producers, retailers and manufacturers who will need to tailor their production to meet the changing demand for these products. 126

A VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS OF SELECTED FRUITS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: MANGO, PAPAYA AND BANANA Katrina Ammon-Aguillera and Sharon D. Hutchinson Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of The West Indies This study was conducted as part of a broader project focused on decreasing the post-harvest losses of selected fruits. Mango, papaya and banana were chosen because they were highly perishable fruits and it was crucial that researchers found a way to minimize post-harvest losses. Data were collected through surveys of farmers, processors, middlemen, fruit and vegetable marts (vege-marts) and supermarkets throughout the country. A total of 132 respondents were surveyed in the study. Surveys were conducted from October 2015 to November 2016. Quantitative data obtained from the respondents covered a period of one year prior to the date of interview. Both quantitative and qualitative data were gathered through primary data collection methods. Initially, listings of 45 mango, 31 papaya and 20 banana farmers were obtained from two government agricultural offices in Trinidad and Tobago—Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF) and Division of Agriculture, Marine Affairs, Marketing and the Environment (DAMME). Purposive sampling was employed to collect data from farmers in the various listings. A total of 61 farmers were interviewed in the four northern parishes of Trinidad—St. George West, St. George East, Caroni and St. Andrews/St. David, and 9 farmers were interviewed in Tobago. The final sample surveyed consisted of 34 mango farmers, 23 papaya farmers and 13 banana farmers. Information was collected on volumes, prices, distribution channels and the market conditions of mango, papaya and banana. Tabular analysis and gross marginal analysis were used to analyse the data in order to determine gross margins, returns, price spread and the farmer’s share of the consumer’s price. Only those channels which distributed fresh fruits were analysed. Four channels distributed mangoes, five channels distributed papayas and three channels distributed bananas—from farmer to consumer. Overall, farmers received the highest share of the consumer’s price when they sold directly to consumers (100% in channel I). The farmer’s share of the consumer’s price was lowest in channel IV (14.8%), channel V (32.1%) and channel III (37.6%) for mango, papaya and banana, respectively. The mango middleman earned the highest return (34% more) when fruits were sold to vege-marts (channel III) instead of supermarkets. Vege-mart vendors maximized their returns when fruits were bought from the farmer in channel II (53.5% higher) and not the middleman. Supermarkets bought fruits only from the middleman and carried the highest average retail price for mangoes. 127

This price was 24 percent higher than that of the vege-marts. Price spread was largest in channel IV: Farmer – Middleman – Supermarket – Consumer. The papaya middleman earned the highest return in channel V (41% more) when fruits were sold to supermarkets instead of vege-marts. Both vege-mart vendors and supermarkets maximized their returns if fruits were bought directly from the farmer and not the middleman. Price spread was largest in channel V: Farmer – Middleman – Supermarket – Consumer. The banana middlemen only sold fruits to vege-marts. In contrast, the vege-mart vendors maximized their returns—42% more was earned—when fruits were bought directly from the farmer and not the middleman. Price spread was largest in channel II: Farmer – Vege-mart – Consumer. One recommendation was the urgent need for improved marketing infrastructure and market integration among the various participants and other stakeholders in the agriculture production sector. 128

ON-GOING RESEARCH 129

THE BAN ON SUGAR SWEETENED BEVERAGES IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO SCHOOLS: STAKEHOLDERS’ PERSPECTIVES POST-IMPLEMENTATION Marisa Dowrich-Prince Ph.D. in Human Ecology Candidate Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine The use of policies was long expressed by experts as a main constituent of interventions with the intent of addressing public health issues. Over the years, several policies have been prepared and introduced addressing health, nutrition, and other diet-related issues with emphasis on vulnerable populations, such as school-aged children. The WHO called on countries to reduce the intake of sugar among both children and adults to less than 10% of their total energy intake. Several countries have since taken a position to ban the sale or service of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) in school cafeterias, vending machines, shops, and stores around schools. Schools have become an important thespian in the designing of population- based preventative programmes addressing obesity through health promotion. In January 2017, the Minister of Health, Trinidad and Tobago announced the intent to ban the sale of SSB in government and government- assisted schools. The purpose of this study was to investigate stakeholders’ level of readiness to implement the policy change on SSB in two educational districts. 130

Table 1: The Stages of Concern about an Innovation Stages of Concern Description Self 0- Unconcerned Unaware or unconcerned about the innovation 1- Informational Would like to know more about the innovation Task 2- Personal Considering personal conflicts re: Management 3- Management use of the innovation 4- Consequence Concerned about managing tasks and logistics related to use of innovation Concerned about the impact on users of the innovation 5- Collaboration Coordinating and Cooperating 6- Refocusing with others to improve impact of innovation Exploring ideas to improve or replace the innovation A total of 198 administrators and teachers completed a 35-item questionnaire on present concerns and how they felt about their involvement with the ban on SSBs. Data from the Stages of Concern Questionnaire (SoCQ) was analyzed in accordance with guidelines outlined in Measuring Implementation in Schools: The Stages of Concern Questionnaire (George, Hall, and Stiegelbauer 2013). Once completed, administrators, teachers and cafeteria staff engaged in focus group sessions which were analyzed and presented using the Stages of Concern (Table 1). The SoCQ highlighted that the school management teams shared concerns mainly on three stages. The highest stages of concern for individuals were stages 0, 2 and 1. Figures 1 and 2 show the group analysis of stages of concerns profile for the ban on SSBs. Additionally, several themes emerged regarding the ban on SSBs during these focus group sessions (Table 2). The CBAM allowed for assessment of stakeholders’ concerns using the SOCQ. The model has the ability to assess levels of use post- 131

implementation but was not the focus of this study. This research revealed a few implications for practice. The ban was believed to be a positive strategy to improve the school environment however, reinforcement through nutritional intervention featured as potential gap in the process. Dietitians and Public Health Nutritionists need to implement and manage community programs (facilitating nutrition education and modification) as well as the successful management initiatives such as the ban on SSBs. This may have increased “buy-in” from stakeholders. There is need for a multidisciplinary approach to addressing the needs of school-aged children and their health and nutritional status. Figure 1: The Ban on SSBs (all districts) Figure 2: The Ban on SSBs by District 132

Table 2: List of Thematic Areas and Supporting Quotes Thematic Area Example Quotes Diffusion of the “A directive was given from the Ministry of Education via the use of innovation circulars, meetings with principals and media.”- Principal. Lack of “I don't think there was much information was provided before, during information & or after what was planned and what's more is because for us the consultations children felt it was punitive, the cafeteria staff felt disrespected and the teachers felt uninformed. When you have this situation, it is very Collaboration difficult to implement anything without having kickbacks or protest. Even up to now we are struggling to get children to understand the Modelling importance of it because of how the issue was handled.”- Teacher “Of course I would have liked to be involved as we are the ones who Administrative are in the forefront with the students. I think it was only fair to involve Support us”- Teacher Insufficient “I am personally interested in health and as such at our school we have time healthy eating education. “This is done as a scheduled part of our Alternative food morning assembly.”- Principal. & beverage options “Provide feedback to whom? Nobody wanted feedback from us as far Finance as I am concerned. They just said they didn't want us to sell sugary beverages in the schools, gave a list of the products they did not want Parental us to sell and said yall had to abide by that.”- Cafeteria involvement “Not enough time was given to the administration time to meet with the staff, students and canteen to discuss the matter”- Principal and Nutrition Teacher. intervention “They didnt guide us through the process saying we gonna take this out but use this instead.”- Cafeteria “We cannot provide items such as coconut water and fruit which would be 2-3 times the cost of soft drink. It would be difficult to make a profit. Some of the things that are good for us can be really expensive”- Cafeteria “The issue again is the parents who are sending their children with drinks so we need some parental guidance and buy-in from all involved. It's not like we don’t try you know. We throw it out at parents’ conference and PTA meetings and encourage them but we can only do as much.”- Teacher “We can have dietitians coming around to schools to conduct spontaneous checks on what is being sold in school’s cafeteria. Also, you can have a nutrition programme put in the schools, led by dietitians to not only educate the children but the parents and the wider community.” - Principal. 133

THE BURDEN OF ILLNESS FOR ACUTE GASTROENTERITIS, FOODBORNE DISEASES AND PATHOGENS COMMONLY TRANSMITTED THROUGH FOODS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Carelene Lakhan Ph.D. in Food Safety and Quality Assurance Candidate Department of Food Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine Acute Gastroenteritis (AGE) remains an important global public health issue. Attempts to reduce AGE can be done with high-quality scientific epidemiological data. However, such data are lacking or underreported - resulting in enormous burdens for a potentially preventable illness. Data reported to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) from its member countries show high and increasing numbers of gastroenteritis cases (the key reported syndrome of foodborne illness), but the exact proportion of gastroenteritis illnesses that is foodborne is not known. Another challenge facing the regions’ public health community is the limited understanding of which pathogens (etiologies) are responsible for food and water borne infections. This has resulted in limited etiological information on causation, hence limiting the development of targeted disease reduction interventions. This study is the first of its kind in Trinidad and Tobago and provides estimates for ‘true’ number of AGE cases; quantify the proportion due to foodborne pathogens; estimate costs associated; and identify behavioural practices that could cause AGE. Data generated from this study so far was used by Caribbean Public Health Agency to determine Caribbean Burden of AGE/Foodborne Disease estimates. Caribbean estimates were subsequently submitted to the World Health Organization for computation of first ever Global Burden of Foodborne Disease estimate. The four major objectives in this study are: 1. To estimate the health burdens associated with AGE in Trinidad and Tobago 2. To estimate the cost of community Acute Gastroenteritis in Trinidad and Tobago This study comprised of two components: a nationwide cross-sectional retrospective population survey and a nationwide prospective laboratory study. A total of 2144 households were randomly interviewed for the population survey and for the prospective laboratory study, a wide range of foodborne pathogens were tested for from AGE patients presenting to a public health institution. 134

Implications of findings: In Trinidad and Tobago, and by extension the Caribbean, the epidemiology of food and water borne diseases (FBD) at the community level is poorly understood. Little information is available on the magnitude and burden of these illnesses, and on the key pathogens responsible for food and water borne infections thereby limiting appropriate prevention measures. The reason these illnesses are not well understood is because most people affected by them are not captured by national surveillance systems. This study would therefore provide ‘true’ estimates for AGE to the Ministry of Health to assist officials to appropriately guide policies and allocate resources to foodborne disease prevention and control efforts to cover the entire food chain from production to consumption, as well as to monitor and evaluate current food safety measures. 135

RISK PERCEPTION AND SAFETY CULTURE: TOOLS FOR IMPROVING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION STRATEGIES Tracy Marshall Ph.D. in Geography Candidate Department of Geography, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) 2015-2030, the current international guidance document for DRR, highlights that the, “mortality and economic losses from disasters are disproportionately higher” (UNISDR, 2015) for developing countries as well as small island developing states (SIDS) due to their unique vulnerabilities. It further highlights the need for the enhancement of the implementation capacity and capability in SIDS for DRR (UNISDR, 2015). It is expected that the frequency and intensity of natural disasters will increase as a result of climate change (UNISDR, 2015; UN,2019) which will exacerbate the vulnerabilities of the SIDS (UNISDR, 2015). Although SIDS may have similar vulnerabilities to both natural and anthropogenic hazards their experiences vary with the frequency and intensity of these hazards as well as their capacity to mitigate the effects of, and recover from, disasters. Furthermore, risk has “local and specific characteristics that must be understood for the determination of measures to reduce disaster risk” (UNISDR, 2015), therefore, it would be beneficial to undertake a geographical analysis. This research seeks to contribute to the international call to assist SIDS in addressing their challenges in meeting their sustainable development goals by reducing their disaster risk. Through the integration of risk perception and safety culture concepts as a tool for the development of a multi-regional framework to enhance the implementation of DRR strategies. It is anticipated that a comparative study would provide evidence that the local context does contribute to the risk perception and safety cultures of a country and having this understanding within a geographical context can improve the implementation of DRR strategies at the local level. To this end, the islands of Barbados and Trinidad will be used as case studies. These islands were selected because of their geographical locations and varying exposures to both natural and anthropogenic hazards. The administration of a survey utilizing attitude and psychometric questionnaire techniques were identified as the most suitable research method 136

for the development of the framework integrating risk perception and safety culture. Implications: It is anticipated that the conceptual multi-regional framework produced will be the primary outcome which contributes to the customisation of DRR strategies for implementation. This research will contribute to the body of knowledge regarding the risk perception to natural, anthropogenic and natech hazards for developing states. It will also provide evidence which highlights and strengthens the linkage between risk perception and safety culture for the improved implementation of DRR strategies. 137

AN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES APPROACH TO THE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREAS Sayyida Ali M.Phil. in Geography Candidate Department of Geography, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine An ecosystem is a community of plants and animals (biotic) interacting with each other and the non-living community (abiotic) in a geographic space which collectively support a number of services which are vital for ecosystem functioning and human wellbeing (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005). However, despite the co-dependence between ecosystems and human economic, social and cultural wellbeing, it is globally recognised that pressures arising from population growth and human activities are among the major culprits of ecosystem damage and degradation (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005). A review of literature on frameworks for sustainable coastal ecosystem management revealed several issues regarding the applicability of most existing frameworks. The need to establish a framework towards sustainable management of ecologically sensitive areas, even more specifically in cases of ecotourism development is reiterated by numerous researchers (University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2008; Harrington et al., 2010; Liquette et al., 2013; Arkema et al., 2015). Furthermore, management scenarios, plans and processes towards development usually occur in a much smaller scale in the most vulnerable areas (i.e., Small Island Developing States (SIDS)), while most management frameworks that are developed are done with the consideration of a much larger scale context (e.g. MEA, 2003 and CARSEA, 2007). Since policy-makers were the targeted audience for these assessments, the guidance from the current state to a desired future seems obscured and incomprehensible, and this may be a reason why progress is slow at the local scale. Objectives: • To conduct a comparative assessment of Grande Riviere, Trinidad and Lincoln, Canada: − To investigate community members’ awareness of ecosystem services and the impact of climate change − To determine how important the ecosystem is to the community − To consider the current dependence on the most economically- relevant services o To understand who and where are the beneficiaries, and how does this affect how it is valued and managed 138

− To investigate the natural resource management perspective of the community • To develop a holistic framework for the sustainable management of protected areas • To project future impact scenarios and suggest best-case outcomes and guidelines to success Methodology: To investigate the ecosystem services in the community, secondary data mining is being done to establish a thorough baseline and historical context to evaluate emergent patterns in the use of natural resources, visitor arrivals, ecological concerns and economic activity in the community. Questionnaires and structured interviews are being conducted with the local community and visitors to the respective sites. The derived indices for the framework and the issues that arise in their compilation will be addressed. Implications: Conducting a comparative study to previous work in Grande Riviere, Trinidad, in Lincoln, Ontario will facilitate an evaluation and assimilation of information on two very different geographic and socio-cultural contexts (the Caribbean and Canada). The final framework developed is expected to contribute significantly to sustainable ecosystem management globally. 139

ANALYZING LAND USE IMPACT ON STREAMFLOW RESPONSE UTILIZING STABLE ISOTOPES AND GEOCHEMICAL TRACING Nicola Mathura M.Phil. Candidate in Geography Department of Geography, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Climate change and unsustainable land use practices have the potential to negatively impact the hydrology and water resource availability in catchments. To understand these impacts and properly manage surface and groundwater resources in terms of quality and quantity, a comprehensive understanding of the hydrological processes within the catchment such as runoff generation processes is needed. These processes are often very complex and challenging to quantify and require an interdisciplinary approach. The rainfall-runoff response was compared between the 364 ha Acono and the 357 ha quarried Don Juan watersheds, located in the northern range of Trinidad. We hypothesised that the removal of large areas of the hillslope during quarrying would increase the magnitude of streamflow response to storm events, while also reducing the overall storage of the watershed. A hydrological and geochemical approach which involves direct measurements of rainfall and streamflow, and water sample collections for geochemistry and 18O and 2H stable isotopes. Initial hydrometric data within the period of September 2018 to March 2019 shows that the Acono River (forested), has a lower base flow compared to the Don Juan River (quarry). The stable isotopic data does not show much variation in 18O and 2H between the both rivers, suggesting a small difference in storage and discharge of water. However, with future in depth analysis and additional parameters such as soil water isotopes with major and minor cations, greater incite regarding how water is translated from rainfall to streamflow is anticipated. This research allows us to gain a better insight of the current hydrological processes within this catchment and aid in the long term adaptive planning for further development and other external factors such as climate change. It also contributes to scientific knowledge of runoff processes in the tropics where there is a general lack compared to temperate regions where studies like these are in abundance. 140

AN ECONOMIC VALUATION OF CORAL REEF DEGRADATION IN TOBAGO BY USE OF THE MIXED METHOD APPROACH Vidwatee Ramdhanie Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics Candidate Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Faculty of Food and Agriculture The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Over the past couple of decades, the future outlook of coral reefs has been dismal. With an increasing pressure from anthropogenic and natural stressors, coral reefs are declining around the world. Coral reefs are highly productive ecosystems that provide a variety of valuable goods and services to humans. It is of utmost importance to investigate the values associated with healthy coral reefs and the importance of its sustainable management and protection, yet we see the widespread use of destructive practices and lack of resources for management. The aim of this research is to generate economic valuations to aid development of a policy framework to prevent coral reef degradation in Tobago. The research objectives are to: assess the socioeconomic benefits of qualitative and quantitative changes from the status quo of the coral reefs, observe the differences in total welfare for prevented coral reef degradation between two groups (visitors and non-visitors), examine the effect of erosion rate on real estate prices, recommend proper management and requirements at the policy level for implementing coral reef preservation plans and observe the comparability between a stated preference and reveal preference technique with testing the reliability and validity of their results. The relationship between coral reef degradation and land erosion would be investigated since the loss of land is considered an economic loss. This study will be carried out by using two quantitative and one qualitative approach; a stated preference (choice modelling), a revealed preference (hedonic pricing) approach and the content analysis. This study will incorporate an upper and lower bound of economic valuation of this ecosystem. It attempts to show the importance of using preference elicitation in management of an environmental resource by application of the mixed method approach. It is expected to help with the prioritization of policy initiatives for efficient quality and quantity of coral reefs in Tobago. 141

HEAVY METAL ASSESSMENT AND REMEDIATION OF CONTAMINATED SOILS IN TRINIDAD Aldaine Gordon M.Phil. in Soil Science Candidate Department of Food Production, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Heavy metals which may be of geogenic and anthropogenic origin, can be persistent and complex pollutants in soils that negatively impact environmental quality and livelihoods. In Trinidad, heavy metals could originate anthropogenically from the petrochemical (e.g. Zn, Cd), manufacturing (e.g. Hg, Pb) and agricultural (e.g., Cu, As) sectors, where the routine use of fertilisers and pesticides can be a major contributor in the latter. Levels of geogenic Cd have only been studied in cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) plantations across Trinidad, while high levels of other heavy metals such as Cr and Pb originating from dump sites have been detected in some surface water bodies, sediments and groundwater. Given the dearth of information on levels of Cd and other heavy metals in major agricultural soils of Trinidad, it is imperative that studies be established to provide more insight into the heavy metal status in these soils and to assess the influence of anthropogenic activities on their levels. Accordingly, the main objectives of this research are (i) to assess levels of heavy metals and their spatial distribution in the major agricultural soils in Trinidad (ii) to identify the possible major sources of heavy metals in these soils (iii) to explore the use of compost, corn stover, hardwood biochar and aglime in reducing plant available pools of heavy metals and (iv) to assess the phytoremediation capacities (uptake) of select metal hyper-accumulator plants. 142

IMPROVING NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN CASSAVA THROUGH APPROPRIATE TIMING AND PLACEMENT OF FERTILIZERS Nadia Ramtahal Ph.D. in Crop Science Candidate Department of Food Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine This project aims to determine the appropriate fertiliser application timing and placement based on growth stages of cassava; assess the nutrient uptake and yield of four (4) cassava varieties grown in different agro-ecological zones in Trinidad and determine whether lime application moderates the effects of fertiliser timing and placement on cassava performance. It is hypothesized that application of the appropriate fertiliser management and agronomic practices in cassava production will have a positive influence on yield, nutrient uptake and soil fertility. The project is being conducted using the farmer field school (FFS) technique. Two agro- ecological zones were selected and two plots established within each zone; an experimental plot and a control plot. The experimental plot is a randomized block design evaluating 4 varieties and 2 fertiliser treatments. The control plot is one variety and the farmer’s practice. Data collection will consist of plant growth indices, nutrient content, yield and soil fertility properties. Postharvest analysis will also be conducted on tubers. The project outcomes is hoped to develop a fertiliser management programme for cassava that can be used to assist in increasing yields and profitability; recommend varieties based on their responses to the fertiliser management and agronomic practices and ensure dissemination and technology transfer to facilitate the adoption of new cassava technologies. At the end of the project the expectation is to successfully introduce new cassava varieties and demonstrate improved agronomic management practices that can increase yields in a sustainable manner. 143

ASSESSING FOOD SECURITY AMONG HOUSEHOLDS: THE CASE OF RIO CLARO AND MAYARO, TRINIDAD Meera Mahase-Forgenie M.Phil. in Geography Candidate Department of Geography, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine Despite the transformational vision of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development the persistence of hunger and undernourishment in developing countries continues to be one of the greatest barriers facing human and economic development. The Caribbean region is no expectation as the state of Food Security can be described as precarious (Beckford and Campbell, 2013). By extension Trinidad and Tobago’s food security policies follow those of the Corporate Food Regime which encourage a dependence on food imports (Wilson, 2015). In addition, the continuous decline in agriculture and the decline in agricultural investment has exacerbated the problem of Food Insecurity. This has led to major health problems such as over nutrition and under nutrition at the household level. Therefore, reducing household food insecurity is seen as a prerequisite for addressing global and national Food Security targets. This study extends the literature by identifying the determinants of Household Food Security in the areas of Rio Claro and Mayaro. In addition, the research will also identify the level of Food Security in these households. Multi Stage Cluster Sampling will be used to select the sample. The variables that will be tested include household income, size of the household, gender of the household head, age of the household head, employment status, level of education of the household head, community participation and participation in agricultural activities. Ordinary Least Squares regression (OLS) models will be used to determine the association between the dependent and independent variables. In order to determine the level of Food Security the USDA 18 Item Household Food Security Survey Module will be used to collect data. From this, households will be grouped based on their level of food security. 144

AN INVESTIGATION OF THE KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF PATIENTS WITH CARDIOVASULAR DISEASE (POST-DIAGNOSIS) IN PRIVATE HOSPITALS IN TRINIDAD REGARDING FOOD, USE OF NUTRITION INFORMATION AND FOOD LABELS Lisa Feveck M.Phil. Human Ecology Candidate Department of Agricultural Economics & Extension, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, St. Augustine Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the leading cause of death in Trinidad and Tobago. As people become more health conscious, the search for information on the nutritional aspect of the food products they are purchasing is increasing. Because of this, food labels play a major role in providing the necessary nutritional information needed to make more informed choices. This study focuses on CVD patients post-diagnosis, with the main objectives being (1) to investigate their knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning their disease, food labels and the foods / nutrients that can affect their condition (2) to evaluate if these patients follow CVD dietary guidelines by assessing their dietary intake and food purchases, and determining their daily nutrient intake (3) to explore the reasons for usage and /or non-usage of food labels (4) identify any other factors e.g. age, income or education, that may have affected their use of nutrition information and food labels. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using 145 CVD patients living in Trinidad and attending the out-patient cardiac clinic of private hospitals. The survey instrument used was a researcher-developed questionnaire with 44 questions based on FAO survey guidelines and existing validated health literacy tools. Implications: These findings will determine if there is a relationship between nutrition knowledge, reading food labels and dietary behavior, and can be used to develop rehabilitation programmes geared towards educating CVD patients on changes that directly affect their quality of life, as well as inform public health policies to reduce the economic burden of this disease. 145

THE POTENTIAL OF SWEET POTATOES BY HYDROPONIC METHODS IN TRINIDAD Rayanna Radhaykissoon M.Phil. in Tropical Crop Protection Candidate Department of Food Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, St. Augustine Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam.) is ranked as the seventh most important crop worldwide due to its high nutritional contents. Despite being a vital crop with increasing demand, I. batatas has many commercial production issues derived from the negative impacts of Climate Change such as flooding, drought, nutrient deficient soils and pest (Cylas formicarius, one of the major pest of sweet potato) and diseases. Hydroponics offers a Climate Smart solution to all issues encountered and promotes water conservation, rapid growth of plants, higher production yields, and pest and disease free plants. The objective of this study is to develop a non-recirculating hydroponic System for the production of sweet potatoes. The experimental design consists of three 200ft x 1m troughs, Control (C), Treatment 1(T1) and Treatment 2 (T2). The control consists of soil as the growth media and manual application of granular fertilizers. T1 consists of soil as the growth media but utilizes a modified version of Hoagland’s Solution for fertigation. Treatment 2, the Hydroponic plots, consists of composted coconut coir as the growth media and utilizes the modified Hoagland’s solution for fertigation. The Sweet Potato varieties include five popular varieties cultivated in Trinidad: White Chicken Foot (V1), TIS 9100 (V2), Certain (V3), 86BM31(V4) and TIS 21-54 (V5). The experimental design consists of 15 plots per trough with 6 plants per plot tallying to 90 plants per trough, 54 plants per variety and 270 plants total. Data collection include weekly Vine Length (VL) and Leaf Chlorophyll Content for 16 weeks, Vine fresh Weight (VFW), Vine Dry Weight (VDW), Tuber Fresh Weight (TFW), Tuber Dry Weight (TDW) and Incidence of Pest and Disease. The establishment of this hydroponic method creates an environmentally sustainable efficient Hydroponic growth media, derives a Climate Smart practical solution for the growth of Sweet potatoes and contributes to the food security of Trinidad. 146