It’s been two weeks since I’ve returned from my 6 month remote visa stay in Barbados. Thought I’d share some of my takeaways from the experience.
Why Barbados?
First, I had never been to Barbados prior to this adventure. 2020 was a very challenging year for everyone for different reasons. As a young black man in America, the George Floyd Protests and increased focus on police brutality took center stage alongside Covid-19. Grateful that my personal experiences with the police have not resulted in something so drastic, but the reality is myself (or any person of color) could be the next national story. That thought gets resurfaced every time there’s another case that goes viral.
By the end of summer I was ready to take a break from America. Besides escaping the cold Chicago winters, I simply wanted to be in an environment where I would blend in. A place where I could forget about how the color of my skin would impact someone’s perception of me. If it was just about the weather I would have went back to Miami where I completed my undergrad.
The highlights
One of the best parts of the experience was meeting fellow digital nomads of all different backgrounds and nationalities. I met a number of talented developers, startup founders, and operators in Barbados. Everyone was there for a different reason. Everyone was united in the belief that it takes a certain stroke of luck, hard work, and confidence to make a move to a small West Indies island in the middle of a global pandemic. I got a chance to enjoy a number of outdoor activities. I experienced new music. Learned about a new culture. And most importantly, I was able to just blend in. I was shocked at how much my anxiety dropped once I got settled in. Nothing better than people asking where you’re from, replying you’re visiting from the states, and being told that you’re in a safe environment. Bajans were extremely friendly and quite sympathetic to the black American experience.
The low moments
No great adventure is perfect. Due to the poor decisions of a few tourists, and a slip in management from the Bajan government, Barbados had to endure a pretty strict lockdown during the month of February. Cases and deaths spiked from extremely low numbers throughout the last 6 months in 2020. The situation got under control by March thanks to an extremely impressive response from the Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley, and her Covid-19 task force. With a generous donation of vaccines from India, a large amount of the most vulnerable in Barbados were able to get vaccinated.
Food and agriculture in Barbados
I can’t call myself a real food and agriculture tech VC without touching on the scene in Barbados. My lens is filtered through the consistent complaints I heard from Bajans that food prices were increasing at a significant rate.
Sugarcane has historically been the biggest crop in Barbados (stemming back to slavery). Cotton, tobacco, yam, and cassava were other popular crops grown. Starting in the 1950s, falling sugar prices and government-sponsored programs of agricultural diversification and limited land settlement shifted production to a broad array of vegetables, livestock, and fruit. Fishing has always been part of the island’s basic economy, and the government has supported the industry with modernization programs.
The current Prime Minister and her new majority Labour Party have initiated a plan to enhance food security in the country. Under the Farmers Empowerment and Enfranchisement Drive (FEED) program, the goal is to reduce costly imports of primary agricultural products by 25 to 30 percent. Clusters of local farmers are provided with small leasable land holdings and access to farm equipment pools, financial loans and agricultural training to grow more food crops locally.
It will be crucial for Barbados to figure out a way to decrease its reliance on imports. Not only do you solve food insecurity, you create a specialized labor force that can grow the local economy. I saw glimpses of great ways to leverage technology for food and agriculture. In particular, FarmFinder. They’re the developers of a platform that delivers local produce from farms to consumers and businesses. During the height of lockdown and prospect of hour-long wait times in grocery store lines in the hot sun, FarmFinder was the magic solution. A few other opportunities that have promise if the right team builds it:
- Food delivery app for all the restaurants in Barbados. Majority of the restaurants simply rely on WhatsApp for people to place orders. It’s very inefficient since you have to text information for each order and restaurant backend systems rely on pen/paper.
- Vertical/indoor farms for leafy greens, fruits, and other vegetables. Barbados is a small island with limited arable land.
- Plant based meat and dairy alternatives. The most common brands I saw for almond milk were Almond Breeze and Truli. Beyond, Impossible, and Meatless Farm were the most popular for alternative meats. All of these options are very expensive and imported.
- High quality beef production. The small beef and dairy cattle breeding industry relies on artificial insemination. Barbados has some of strictest regulations when it comes importing semen and live animals. A more ancedotal take, the beef I ate in Barbados generally tasted bad. The only reliable source of high quality beef was at Clifton Market. The chicken, lamb, and fish were amazing.
- Livestock management and feed technology. Sourcing livestock feed and forages is a big problem in Barbados. Usually grains are imported before the start of the hurricane season and stored. Pinnacle Feeds is the only concentrated feed producer on the island. Grasses and forages in Barbados don’t have many of the same nutritional properties of those in temperate climates.
What’s next?
I’ll be in Chicago for the next 9 months before moving to Miami for real this time. Looks like we are heading towards another round of protests. Hope everyone stays safe out there.