Young agricultural innovators across Saint Lucia gathered recently in Odsan, Castries, for the third edition of the Agri-Innovation Competition, hosted by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Saint Lucia Delegation. The event formed a core component of the Ministry of Agriculture’s annual World Food Day programming, held this year under the unifying theme “Empowering Young Minds in Creating Sustainable Agri-Solutions.” Designed to showcase creative, youth-led ideas to tackle some of the agricultural sector’s most pressing challenges, the competition invited primary school students to develop concepts centered on waste reduction, enhanced food security, climate-resilient farming, and sustainable production practices.
Claiming the first-place title was Roseau Combined School, with their inventive entry “Banana Peel Miracle Irrigation Liquid.” The student-led project explores the untapped agricultural potential of liquid extracted from soaked banana peels, investigating its effectiveness as a low-cost, organic fertilizer or supplemental irrigation input for small-scale crop production. For their winning innovation, the team took home a floating trophy and four smartwatches to support their ongoing learning.
Second place was awarded to Ciceron Combined School for their technology-focused concept “AgroS758,” which proposes a structured system to redirect agricultural waste and surplus produce away from landfills toward value-added productive uses. Their prize included a trophy and an all-expenses-paid educational eco-tour at the iconic Hotel Chocolat property in Saint Lucia. Odsan Combined School secured third place with “Cocoweed Shield,” an eco-friendly concept that repurposes discarded coconut husks and locally abundant invasive weeds to create a biodegradable ground covering. This natural mat works to suppress unwanted weed growth, reduce soil moisture evaporation, and support healthy crop development without relying on synthetic chemicals. The team took home a third-place trophy for their effort. Anse La Raye Primary School also rounded out the field of competing schools with their own original agricultural innovation concept.
In a move to support continued hands-on learning for all participating youth, every school that entered the competition received a package of essential garden supplies, including quality seeds, hand tools, and basic agricultural inputs. These resources are intended to encourage students to continue testing and refining their ideas long after the competition concludes, fostering a new generation of engaged, sustainability-focused agricultural thinkers. IICA officials extended formal recognition to the partners who made the event possible, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Hotel Chocolat, Massy Stores St Lucia Limited, the Taiwan Technical Mission, and the Saint Lucia Conservation Fund. Their collaborative support underscored the shared commitment to nurturing young talent and advancing sustainable agricultural solutions across the Caribbean island nation.