STUDENTS MERGE CREATIVITY WITH PRACTICAL BUSINESS SKILLS.
Saint Lucia’s agricultural sector has gained fresh momentum as students from the Saint Lucia TVET Institute showcased innovative agribusiness concepts aimed at strengthening food security, expanding agro-processing, and inspiring greater youth participation in the sector.
Hosted at the School of Sustainable Agriculture and Culinary Arts in Dennery, the Agribusiness Pitch Competition allowed students to merge creativity with practical business skills, presenting products and ideas that reflect the expanding role of young people in shaping the island’s food systems.
Principal of the TVET Institute, Claudia Bissette, highlighted the significance of providing students with meaningful, real-world learning experiences. She emphasized that the competition goes far beyond
classroom theory and equips youth with the competencies needed for future success.
“This activity is more than just a presentation; it is an authentic learning experience that blends agriculture, culinary skills, and business development. It challenges our students to conceptualize, design, and pitch viable agriculture-based business ideas, giving them the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial confidence, strengthen their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, deepen their understanding of the farm-to-table value chain, build communication and presentation skills, and appreciate the business potential within agriculture,” she explained.
According to Chief Agri-Enterprise Development Officer (Ag.) Marnus Cherry, the Ministry of Agriculture remains committed to supporting youth-led innovation. He stressed that training, market access, and technical guidance are essential pillars for strengthening Saint Lucia’s agribusiness sector.
"In reinforcing this commitment, the Ministry of Agriculture plays an important supportive role, which includes providing training opportunities for students both now and after they graduate. The Ministry also assists in establishing markets for local products, among other key activities. Innovation is one of the tools we can use to spark youth interest in agribusiness and agriculture as a whole, and technical guidance remains essential in that process,” Cherry added.
The competition concluded with outstanding performances by first-place winner Kerdella Edward, second-place winner Sannicka Joseph, and third-place winner Ryan St. Catherine three young talents whose work demonstrates the potential for transforming agriculture into a modern entrepreneurial pathway.
The Ministry reaffirmed its dedication to initiatives that build youth capacity, noting that empowering the next generation of agribusiness leaders is essential for sustaining national food security and driving
economic growth.