February 2015


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Agricultural Innovation

It is about “innovating the development model for Caribbean agriculture,” says the implemental agreement that followed the MOU signed between The UWI and China Agricultural University on the Development of the UWI-CAU Agricultural Innovation Park.

“In order to further develop agricultural education, research, experimentation and demonstration in agriculture, the Parties will test new varieties, facilities, equipment, technologies, concepts and models at the Park. The Parties will also demonstrate cropping patterns and production flows of distinctive crops currently cultivated in Trinidad and Tobago,” says the agreement.

This agreement, which was signed on December 10, 2104, followed the February signing of the MoU which was witnessed by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, and Mr Wang Ying, Director General, Department of International Cooperation, of the Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China.

The Innovation Park is planned to be established on 200 acres of land at Orange Grove, and is expected to be partitioned into seven areas: Technology service, horticulture, aquatic production, mini zoo, leisure and recreation and commercial entertainment.

The agreement also covers collaboration between the parties in training graduate students at the master and doctoral levels, and work on the possibility of the award of joint or doube degrees to the successful candidates through a split-site engagement.

The December agreement was signed by Professor K.E. Bingsheng, President of the China Agricultural University and Professor Clement Sankat, Principal of The UWI St. Augustine Campus.