By H. Arlington Chesney

News Americas, WASHINGTON, D.C., Thurs. July 20, 2023: The Caribbean, indeed, the world, is prioritising the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the modernisation of their national economies. This is associated with the proliferation of devices, such as, IoT, IIoT and InstructGPT with its sibling, ChatGPT, and Microsoft’s AI for Earth Programme.

The agricultural sector is part of this transformational process with the use of AI in agriculture globally projected to increase from US$1.1 billion in 2019 to US$3.8 billion by 2024. This favourable projection is linked to AI use in agriculture being associated Inter alia with increased efficiency and effectiveness, resulting in increased profitability and industry sustainability.

These beneficial outcomes are primarily due to the plethora of associated devices that are grouped as (1) algorithmic and (2) autonomous.

The algorithmic devices can collect, analyze and interpret gigantic quantities of data and make projections and/or predictions that exceeds human capacity and reliability improving with increasing data range and use.

This has led to AI being used inter alia to:

In crops, (i) forecast weather and hence best timing of planting; (ii) determine fertiliser, pesticide and irrigation water use; (iii) optimise supply chains; and (iv) forecast market peculiarities and readiness.

In livestock, (i) determine feeding patterns; and (ii) management of endemic diseases.

There are many autonomous devices, including drones and robots, conducting precision operations, such as:

In crops, land management and agronomic practices, including pest control, and pollination,

In livestock, milking, feeding and general husbandry.

In farm administration and management, transport, haulage and sanitation.

What Are The Implications For The Agriculture And Food Sectors In An Oil Rich Guyana And, By Extension, CARICOM?

Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali, CARICOM’s Lead Head for Agriculture, recently stated that the “Caribbean market must be positioned as a high-value specialised one”. It is now well demonstrated that the World Trade Organisation’s requirement for globally produced commodities to have relatively free access to national markets of developing countries, such as, Guyana, has hindered the growth of indigenous agricultural and food sectors.

Nonetheless, because of potential geopolitical pressures and the established trading patterns for food commodities prevailing in Guyana and Caricom, this status quo will not change significantly soon. Therefore, achievement of the position identified by President Ali, that is, food supply to a “high-value specialised” market, must be generally done with global competitiveness.

With the abundance of stated benefits associated with the use of AI in agriculture, the potential use in achieving competitiveness required of Guyana’s agriculture and food sector needs to be examined.

The use of AI in agriculture would not pose a mental block to practitioners in Guyana’s agricultural sector who have historically introduced innovative practices and techniques. For example, the sugar industry has utilised aircraft for fertilising and pest control and drones for assessing the state of its available lands. Similarly, the rice industry has “adapted” caged wheels for tractors operating under waterlogged conditions, utilized aircraft for seeding and fertilising and a land leveling “machine” which could be considered as a precursor within the concept of Machine Learning Systems.

Further, at a basic algorithmic level, farmers have established their timings for land preparation, planting and, hence, harvesting with traditional knowledge of the climatic seasons. Within that broad canvas, they determine best times to plant their short term and tree crops with the advent of the “full moon”. More recently, they have become aware that long droughts, associated with climatic changes, are followed by severe pest infestations. Consequently, they make early preparations to effect control.

Agriculture is a complex social, economic and environmental system that responds to the particular and peculiar metrics of Guyana; these metrics are/will be robustly dynamic with the impact of climate change. Consequently, the uses of AI in agriculture in Guyana can’t be transferred wholesale from the countries in which they are being used successfully. They must be tested, adapted and customised to ensure fit for purpose in Guyana. This process, which is tantamount to being a “living laboratory”, requires enhanced—numbers and specialties—technical and financial capacities. With respect to finance, Guyana can use some of its substantial current and projected oil and gas revenues. Once used wisely, this will be a profitable investment in the development of the country’s sustainable agricultural and food sectors of the future.

At the algorithmic level, particularly as it relates to data on weather patterns, the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, in association with national Hydrometeorological Services, like Guyana’s, is making available Numerical Weather Predictions to the public, including those in the agricultural and food sectors. With support from the Extension Services, this information could then be used by individual small and large agrientrepreneurs to plan, with a level of precision, for farm activities. These would include time of land preparation, planting, weed control, husbandry practices and harvesting. This is particularly critical for the agriculturally important, but difficult to manage, heavy clay/silt soils of Guyana’s coastal and riverine areas.

Small farmers currently dominate the country’s food production sector. With their limited technical and instrumental capacity, the template of institutions (ministries or parastatals or agriculturally based associations) collecting and analysing data and developing projections must be promoted and strengthened. As stated previously, the use of AI, at both the algorithmic and autonomous levels, will require “living laboratories”. It’s recommended that these be located at the various ecological zones within Guyana. This will enhance possibilities of minimising risk whilst optimising possibilities for sustainable enterprise development. This is made more necessary because of the current high costs of autonomous devices.

A strong, innovative, visionary and responsive institutional model is essential.

Notwithstanding the above, there are some potential uses for AI in the developing agriculture and food sectors in Guyana. Firstly, at the algorithmic level, weather and soil data could be collected and analysed to project with significant statistical accuracy timing of critical agronomic practices and approaches to various marketplaces. This will require the Government to enhance its soil collection and analytical capacity to include in the first instance selected crops within specific ecological zones.

A further possibility is the collection of appropriate activity data throughout, – but particularly at the production segments -selected value chains, to facilitate the development of “traceability” models: a prerequisite as Guyana expands its production for its robustly expanding hospitality sector and for CARICOM and other export markets.

At the autonomous level, as Guyana, for climate change reasons, is moving southwards, away from the “threatened” coastlands, there is need to rapidly regularise occupancy to facilitate development plans. Drones are appropriate for this activity. However, the appropriate legal framework must be established, operationalised and institutionalised. Drones may also be used for planning the layout, including planting densities, of medium to large sized farms, growing corn, soybeans, rice, sugar, tree crops, and pasture grasses. Similarly, they can be used for pest control.

In the Intermediate and Rupununi Savannahs, whose topography is generally flat and/or undulating, appropriate planting, fertilising and harvesting autonomous machines can be adapted used. Naturally, this will depend on the capital cost and the ability to maintain an acceptable level of Return on Investment. These activities could serve as pilots for similar enterprises in Belize and Suriname and, in a more limited way, Jamaica. That is, with its favourable oil and gas revenues, Guyana can be the leader in the use of AI in Agriculture in CARICOM.

Clearly, there are challenges to its use, and these will be addressed in a subsequent article. However, suffice it to say that the successful use of AI, in ensuring long term resilient and consequently sustainable food systems and food security in Guyana, depends on the adequacy and competency of its HI, Human Intelligence.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr H Arlington D Chesney is a leading Caribbean agricultural professional who has served his country, the Caribbean and the hemisphere in the areas of research, education and development. He’s a professional Emeritus of IICA and, in 2011, was awarded Guyana‘s Golden Arrow of Achievement for his contribution to agricultural development in Guyana and the Caribbean.   

News Americas, NASSAU, Bahamas, Thurs. July 20, 2023: ANSA McAL Limited has successfully completed an agreement to acquire a stake in the dynamic Bahamian Brewery & Beverage Company Limited, (BBB). BBB, a proud Bahamian-owned brewery and non-alcoholic beverage producer located in Freeport, Grand Bahama, has established itself as a fully integrated company, encompassing brewing, distribution, and retail operations. Since its inception in 2007, BBB has been dedicated to brewing excellence, starting with its flagship beer, SANDS, named after its owner, James “Jimmy” Sands.

With a diverse range of nine different brands, the Bahamian Brewery not only produces its own beverages but also distributes various global beer brands throughout the Bahamas. As the Caribbean’s leading independent brewer, CARIB Brewery has a rich history, steeped in culture and taste. With breweries in Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, and Florida, CARIB Brewery has crafted a superior and consistent portfolio of brands across 33 countries.

Under the agreement, the Bahamian Brewery will leverage its world-class manufacturing facility and robust route-to-market system to produce beverages from CARIB Brewery’s portfolio of high-quality brands. This collaboration aims to unleash the spirit of Caribbean fun and bring CARIB’s exceptional products to a wider global audience.

Anthony Sabga III, CEO of the ANSA McAL Group, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, highlighting the alignment with their strategy to drive the growth of appealing beverage brands on a global scale. The investment will enable the Bahamian Brewery to create additional value and pave the way for a new phase of growth. ANSA McAL’s extensive experience in such situations, combined with the qualities exhibited by Jimmy Sands and his team, makes them an ideal partner. The Bahamian Brewery’s popular beverage brands, which perfectly complement ANSA McAL’s existing portfolio, further contribute to the excitement surrounding this collaboration.

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. July 19, 2023: The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has joined forces with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) by signing an agreement to become a partner of the Energy Transition Accelerator Financing (ETAF) platform. As part of its commitment, the IDB plans to allocate up to USD 100 million to co-finance renewable energy projects and energy transition technologies in the Latin America and Caribbean region.

This collaboration between the IDB and IRENA is set to have a profound impact on the region by catalyzing the energy transition, advancing progress on energy access and security, and driving significant changes in the renewable energy landscape.

IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera and IDB CEO Ilan Goldfajn expressed their enthusiasm for the partnership. Director-General La Camera emphasized the urgency for action on the energy transition as the climate tipping point draws near, and highlighted the IDB’s invaluable expertise and substantial resources that will contribute to progress in Latin America and the Caribbean.

IDB President, Ilan Goldfajn, also spoke about the IDB’s increased climate ambition and the importance of mobilizing more capital for low-carbon technologies. By joining IRENA’s important financing platform, the IDB takes a significant step towards supporting the energy transition goals of Latin America and the Caribbean. This collaboration positions the region as a key player in addressing the global challenge of climate change.

The ETAF platform, initially aiming to mobilize USD 1 billion by 2030, has already surpassed its target with the involvement of new partners like the IDB. The current capital commitment stands at an impressive USD 1.25 billion, exceeding the platform’s initial goal. Leveraging its global reach and expertise in the energy transition, IRENA is actively developing a pipeline of projects in emerging markets across Latin America and the Caribbean. These projects will be presented to interested ETAF partners, including the IDB, for potential funding and support.

News Americas, BRUSSELS, Belgium, July 13, 2023: In response to two World Health Organization (WHO) evaluations of aspartame, one of the most thoroughly researched ingredients in the world, released today, the International Sweeteners Association (ISA) applauds the WHO’s reaffirmation of aspartame’s safety by its leading scientific body responsible for evaluating the safety of food additives, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). These conclusions are consistent with the findings of over 90 global food safety agencies who have confirmed aspartame’s safety, including the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), that has reviewed aspartame twice, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“JECFA has once again reaffirmed aspartame’s safety after conducting a thorough, comprehensive and scientifically rigorous review” said ISA Secretary General Frances Hunt-Wood. “Aspartame, like all low/no calorie sweeteners, when used as part of a balanced diet, provides consumers with choice to reduce sugar intake, a critical public health objective.”

As part of its comprehensive assessment, reconfirming the safety of aspartame, JECFA examined IARC’s conclusions and found no concern for human health. Importantly, IARC is not a food safety body and its 2B classification does not consider intake levels nor actual risk, making an IARC review far less comprehensive than the thorough reviews conducted by food safety bodies like JECFA and potentially confusing for consumers.

To put this in context, IARC’s 2B classification puts aspartame in the same category as kimchi and other pickled vegetables. IARC would be the first to say that they don’t suggest people should stop using kimchi at meals.

As part of an overall healthy diet and lifestyle, aspartame can be used to further public health objectives on sugar intake reduction and ultimately assist in weight and diabetes management, as well as with dental health.

News Americas, GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Weds. July 11, 2023: The latest report on ‘Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean’ by the United Nations (UN) Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), show that Guyana has emerged as the top destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Caribbean for the year 2022. The country witnessed a record-breaking inflow of $4.389 billion.

The remarkable performance can be attributed to the growing interest of foreign investors in Guyana’s hydrocarbon sector. In fact, the natural resources industry accounted for 99% of the total FDI inflows in 2022, despite experiencing a 2% decrease compared to the previous year.

This isn’t the first time Guyana has achieved the highest FDI inflows. In 2021 as well, the country secured the top position in attracting foreign investments.

The ECLAC report also highlights that Guyana’s future looks promising, as the country’s hydrocarbon sector is expected to continue attracting significant investments in the upcoming years. Several announcements made in 2022 indicate sustained interest from investors in Guyana’s oil and gas industry.

Furthermore, the report emphasizes that the influx of FDI in the non-renewable energies sector across Latin America and the Caribbean is influenced by factors such as international market fluctuations in energy prices, the discovery of new hydrocarbon sources in the region, and changes in local market structures. Notably, six countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Mexico, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, and Trinidad and Tobago, have witnessed substantial FDI inflows into their hydrocarbon sectors, with an average annual investment of $7.214 billion between 2000 and 2022.

The report points out that larger FDI inflows in certain years can be attributed to the discovery of oil reserves, exemplified by Guyana’s case. Since 2018, Guyana has experienced a significant surge in FDI inflows in the hydrocarbon sector, with an average annual investment of $814 million, compared to just $6 million per year between 2002 and 2011. As a result, the sector has accounted for more than 90% of the country’s total FDI inflows.

Guyana’s impressive growth in the oil industry can be traced back to the discovery of offshore oil deposits in 2015, largely driven by the exploration efforts of US oil company ExxonMobil. Since then, the country has consistently expanded its oil reserves, production, and revenue derived from oil production.

The report also highlights the notable contributions of Guyana and Mexico to the growth of the coal, oil and gas, and renewable energy sectors in 2022. This growth can be attributed to higher global energy prices and ongoing efforts towards energy transition. In fact, Guyana and Mexico accounted for 93% of the total project investments, surpassing $22 billion, in these sectors.

Additionally, the renewable energy sector experienced significant growth, with investments close to $11 billion and a 40% increase compared to the previous year. Noteworthy projects, including oil extraction initiatives in Guyana, have also contributed to the sector’s expansion, particularly in the United States.

Overall, Guyana’s remarkable FDI inflows and its strategic focus on the hydrocarbon sector position the country as a key player in attracting foreign investments in the Caribbean region.