For Immediate Release
June 13, 2022
Nassau, Bahamas: The Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs is working with Volcani International Partnerships (VIP) to execute The Cultivation Centre – a hub for agricultural production in The Bahamas.
VIP is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that works with local partners to bring Israel's leading agricultural experts and innovations to enhance global food security and economic prosperity.
A team from VIP will visit The Bahamas from June 11th -18th to assess prospective sites for The Cultivation Centre. The team is expected to travel to New Providence, Abaco, Grand Bahama and Eleuthera.
The Cultivation Centre is designed to promote greater interaction between technocrats and farmers and modernize food and agriculture systems in The Bahamas. It will comprise a produce exchange, a fish and farm store and food processing kitchens.
Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Hon. Clay Sweeting said VIP’s expertise is welcomed and will assist with the government’s goal for sustainable food security.
“Expertise and innovation have played an instrumental role in the development of agriculture in Israel. We welcome Volcani International Partnerships' delegation of leading Israeli experts as we move to develop The Cultivation Centre in The Bahamas. We, as a government, must continue to develop creative ways to involve our people in our fight against food insecurity. These centres will have a strong focus with training rooms, food kitchens, agricultural technology offerings and food and product showcases,” he said.
Executive Director of Volcani International Partnerships Danielle Abraham said the partnership with the Government of The Bahamas will be highly beneficial.
“Leaders around the world often look to learn from Israel’s agricultural experience. Israel not only built a thriving agricultural sector under the conditions of great adversity, but has emerged as a global leader of agri-technology. Through The Cultivation Centre, we are privileged to be in a position to bring Israel’s top experts and innovations to support agricultural development in The Bahamas. This is a powerful example of Israel’s expertise being harnessed for the benefit of Caribbean Agriculture,” she said.
President of the Caribbean Israel Leadership Coalition H.E. Ambassador Dr. Andre Thomas, who is a key driver behind the partnership, said VIP will assist The Bahamas in tackling food security challenges.
“In many ways, Israel is perfectly suited to help enhance Caribbean Agriculture. This is a boon for Bahamian Agriculture in the same way it takes a village to raise a child, the breadth of expertise found in The Cultivation Centre will enhance and transform Bahamian agriculture,” he said.
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Volcani International Partnerships (VIP) is a not-for-profit organisation that tackles global food and nutrition insecurity throughout the world by sharing Israel’s world-class agricultural experience, expertise and technologies. VIP expands the reach and impact of Israeli agricultural expertise through advisory services, training, technology transfer and bespoke projects.
The Caribbean Israel Leadership Coalition (CILC) is an organisation striving to secure economic growth and sustainable development for the Caribbean by driving the use of Israeli innovations, technologies and know-how.
Media Contact: Kendea Smith
kendeasmith@bahamas.gov.bs
+1 (242) 477-2464