Intern Sustainability Series: Our Visit to DOA
On June 30th, Tuesday morning, interns visited the Department of Agriculture (DoA). The group was greeted by Mr. Demoy Nash, Deputy Director, who gave an introduction to DOA’s functions. Mr. Nash shared the importance of food and nutrition security in the Cayman Islands and the wider Caribbean. He reflected on COVID-19, when this realization was manifested and the implementation of a food-security policy moved from concept to necessity. He shared that when food comes from overseas, it often loses about 40% of its nutritional value before reaching our homes. Noting the heightened levels of obesity and cardiovascular disease experienced across the Caribbean, Mr. Nash observed that a well-developed local agriculture industry, could be extremely beneficial to the health and wellbeing of many across the Cayman Islands.
In his remarks, Mr. Nash mentioned the many different areas of work in agriculture, opening the interns’ eyes to the diverse career possibilities in agriculture. He shared his belief that there is a necessity for agriculture to become more appealing to Gen Z, in terms of careers but also as an adopted lifestyle. Reinforced to the interns throughout the tour was the fact that agriculture is an unlimited market because food is an essential resource that people will not and cannot live without.
To begin the tours, interns split into two groups: one to Livestock (poultry and herd) and the other to Agronomy (crop production). During the time spent in Livestock, interns were shown the DOA’s Poultry Innovation and Education Centre, where they keep hens, pullets, and chicks. The hens lay eggs that are collected by DOA and distributed to community groups.
Another service provided by DOA is its free slaughterhouse, which is used to facilitate local beef. The process entails careful analysis of the animal’s health before slaughter to ensure its quality. DOA provides these services to ensure equal food security for all, while at the same time ensuring food quality. These two go hand in hand.
During the tour we discussed “greenwashing.” This is when companies apply labels to their products under the façade that the food was produced ethically and sustainably, but with little to no evidence provided to consumers. The comfort of knowing where your food has come from is priceless. This is the reassurance that is afforded through supporting local food production, a worthy initiative that ensures nutritious and high-quality food that sustains people’s health.
Intern Hailey Myles, who is pursuing a master’s in food science, provides her thoughts on this:
- “Visiting the Department of Agriculture reminded me that meaningful impact doesn't always require complex solutions; it requires investment, collaboration, and a commitment to what matters. Agriculture isn't just about farming—it's about preserving the traditions we cherish, from Cayman-style beef at Christmas to mangoes in season and fresh Scotch bonnet peppers year-round. As the culinary capital of the Caribbean, we should be investing not only in the dishes we're proud to serve, but also in the farmers, producers, and agricultural systems that make them possible.”
We spoke about the need for people to become more knowledgeable and interested in where their food comes from. Agriculture is an extremely diverse market that needs assistance from communications and marketing styles. To support this point, consider the different dietary restrictions and preferences that exist: some people cannot consume dairy, some prefer not to eat gluten, others avoid meat, and the list goes on.
The intern’s second tour guide, Veterinary Officer Mr. O’Shane McHugh, shared his belief that agricultural work attracts a particular kind of person: observant, dedicated, passionate, and patient. With minimal land, DOA has to be intentional about how and how much they feed their animals. Mr. O’Shane McHugh shared with us the common rule of thumb, “one acre per animal.” This is not realistic for many farms here or for DOA. However, interns also suggested there may be a benefit to this: animals are less likely to become lazy and stop mating; additionally, being able to control the quality of the animals’ diet means DOA and other local farms can facilitate more nutrient-rich meats.
Mr. McHugh described DOA’s use of artificial insemination (AI), primarily for chickens, and pointed out that the land we viewed is used to quarantine animals imported to the island. The holding pen was previously used for livestock insemination and made available to farmers islandwide. He explained that AI is often used to produce cross-hybrids better adapted to local conditions, such as the Caribbean heat. Once cows are ready, they are auctioned and sold. When interns asked about insurance, he said most farm animals, including cows, are uninsured, so unexpected illness, injury, or death is written off as a business loss.
Returning to the issue of agriculture as a frequently underestimated but essential market, we discussed the availability of land. Due to the growing development industry, much of the land that could be used to enhance the island’s agriculture production is instead being developed for non-agriculture purposes. This is a persistent issue, but there is growing support for sustainability as more people recognize that preserving our land and environment is essential to our long-term survival. Once more, COVID-19 taught us the danger of relying too heavily on other markets — we need to become as self-sufficient as possible in terms of its agriculture and food security.
After the discussion with Mr. McHugh, the interns made their way to the Agronomy (crop production) zone, where Ms. Claudette McKenzie-Bowen — agronomist and crop extension manager — greeted us and educated us on all things agronomy. The interns learned that agronomy science, which Ms. Claudette described as one of the most diverse fields of science, encompasses research in areas such as plant genetics, plant physiology, and soil management. Agronomy underpins the food security of any country and involves aspects such as plant breeding and crop establishment. Ms. McKenzie-Bowen shared a story from her first day as an agronomist, when she was told to use a machete to cut the grass from the curb. Despite her years as a young person helping her family on their farm, she had no experience using a machete. She injured her wrist; the machete would create sparks against the concrete. But, like the plants she loves and has worked with for many years now, she was determined. She adapted, and the fruits of her labor have ensured food security for us.
Intern Nya Roberts, who is pursuing a degree in marketing, reflects on her time spent at DOA:
- “Before this experience, I had no idea how broad the field of agriculture really was. It is not only about farming; it also includes technicians, agronomists, researchers, and many other professionals who play important roles in ensuring food production and sustainability. It showed me how agriculture can help us become less dependent on imports, and more resilient in the face of external disruptions. I was surprised to learn that we have cashew trees and discovering facts like that made the experience even more exciting. Overall, I learned so much during my visit, and it has made me excited about the future of agriculture. It is a growing and innovative field with many opportunities to make a positive impact.
Interns got a chance to tour the DOA orchard and see its beautiful mango, avocado, cashew and naseberry trees. Plant propagation is another service offered by the DOA, where they assist residents in learning how to propagate vegetable seedlings and young fruit trees. These plants are also sold to local farmers and backyard gardeners through the DOA Plant Nursery section. One of the most fascinating things we heard about was grafting — when a young shoot (branch) from one tree is joined onto the rootstock of another, which is the most common way of propagating mango cultivars. The grafting process does not create a new genetic hybrid but instead clones the desired variety.
The department is also in the process of testing and becoming more familiar with hydroponics systems. The DOA currently has an intern completing work experience that requires them to complete a study utilizing the hydroponics system. Given the scarcity of land suitable for agriculture, the wide-scale implementation of similar hydroponics systems would be a fantastic milestone for DOA as it could bring us, as a nation, one massive step closer to food security by embracing innovative agriculture.
In conclusion, the trip to DOA was an educational one, giving interns invaluable insights into the functions of the department and their mission to ensure no one on island goes hungry. Interns gained exposure to career paths that many were previously unaware existed.
The goal of the Sustainability Series is to expose interns to a range of career opportunities by showcasing some of the agencies who contribute to sustainability and resiliency here, helping to secure a sustainable future.
I think the interns who participated in this visit left with a better understanding of the work being done by the team at the Department of Agriculture, as well as a deeper appreciation of the importance of their work in creating a food-secure future for us. A big thank you to the Department of Agriculture for hosting us and to all of our organizers!
Learn more here: https://gov.ky/sustainablecig
