Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health & Well-being (SDG 3)
Growing from Flora and Fauna to Value-added Natural Products
Kerri-Ann Bovell* University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados
The goal of this work is to explore methods and opportunities in converting the local Caribbean flora and fauna into natural products for the food, agricultural and cosmetic sectors. Like most of the developing world, many small island developing states (SIDS) in the Caribbean rely mostly on imported goods and services for daily functionality. This heavy reliance on external resources has reduced our growth and development capacity and is becoming increasingly unsustainable. Investigations have concluded that the small and large-scale establishment of service industries to support processing and manufacturing of local flora and fauna is the key factor that is absent in Barbados and most of the Caribbean. These resources are necessary to convert our raw materials and food crops into value added products to improve food security and resilience. Small-scale, decentralized establishment will encourage self-sufficiency for the population, and aid in the attainment of zero-hunger which is especially significant with the increase in natural disasters. Ultimately, a focus on local and regional commercialization of the natural and physical sciences is the next step in creating the economic and social sustainability needed to fully support our growing region.
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© The Author(s), 2023
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