A Caribbean island focuses on food and green resilience: young farmers, training, and new eco-tech projects are at the heart of its rebirth.

Saint-Martin aims to transform itself from a tourist destination into a laboratory for Caribbean agricultural innovation, redesigning a local supply chain that is up to the challenges of climate, economics, and post-Irma.

After the 2017 cyclone and the pandemic, the French Overseas Collectivity fully assumed agricultural responsibilities, until then managed by the Guadeloupe Region, and entrusted the new governance to the CCISM (Chambre Consulaire Interprofessionnelle) and the DAAF (Direction de l'Alimentation, de l'Agriculture et de la Forêt), integrated into the Prefecture of Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin.

Today, agriculture accounts for less than 1 percent of local GDP, but the growth potential is tangible thanks to a new territorial plan, the EAFRD and POSEI funds, and a mix of European and local resources to strengthen agricultural supply chains. Initiatives like Green'up (for the development of sustainable agricultural practices) and aid to manage drought or finance the modernization of slaughterhouses confirm the push toward resilient and sophisticated agriculture.

Training & Funding: New Lifeblood for Young Farmers

The fertile ground of inaction is now being denied to new agricultural talent. In Saint-Martin, several organizations (CCSIM, SICASMART, ADEPPAL, AAPISM, CARIBGENE, and EGEA) offer technical and financial support at every stage of the entrepreneurial journey.

In parallel, in nearby Sint Maarten (the Dutch side of the island), the Agriculture Business Academy, a free 2025-week program created by Qredits with the support of the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications, started in July 12.

The program involved 19 participants, including farmers and fishermen, trained in agriculture, innovation, entrepreneurship, finance, and sustainable practices: a true "practical school" with teachers such as Lucrecia Lynch and Denicio Wyatte.

A significant quote from Grisha Heyliger-Marten, TEATT Minister in the Dutch sector:

“Empowering our communities through knowledge and opportunity is the cornerstone of our Sustainable Development Goals.”

And a comment from Elwin Groenevelt, founder of Qredits and CEO of SoFin:

“We believe in entrepreneurship as a tool for social and economic transformation.”

Upon completion, participants can apply for a subsidized loan of up to $50000 at 2 percent interest—a real springboard for new agricultural and fishing businesses.

Innovation in the field and at the table: small projects, big value

Agricultural innovation in Saint-Martin is also reflected in current examples in the private sector. A prime example is Spaceless Gardens, led by Denicio Wyatte, who has experimented with vertical gardens and regenerated containers, taking advantage of limited space and difficult terrain. He states:

“I am engaged in a path of continuous research and experimentation to identify the best possibilities for sustainable cultivation.”

And the Rooted in SXM initiative, where Stéphane Ferron grows mushrooms using up to 30 percent of local organic waste (coffee grounds, beer scraps), minimizing waste and making the most of every resource.

The products of these small, local, GMO-free farms find their way into the island's liveliest farmers' markets: cooperatives and markets become meeting places for local production and conscious consumption.

That's not all: Farm4You, based in Agrément, is also redefining sustainable agriculture in Saint-Martin, producing up to 1.900 heads of lettuce per week using aquaponics, a system that combines fish farming with hydroponic cultivation. In addition to lettuce, they also grow mint and basil using organic methods.

Events and international strategy: Saint-Martin looks to the future

Another positive signal comes from institutional activism: Saint-Martin In July 2025, it hosted the 58th edition of the “Caribbean Food Crops Society” fair, dedicated to revitalizing biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, and green skills among the region's young people.

This event showcased integrated policies and projects developed by the Collectivité under the guidance of Elie Touzé (director of blue and green economy), Arnel Daniel, Maggy Gumbs, Cyril Robert and other stakeholders.

At the same time, a recent call for new projects from the Directorate of Food, Agriculture and Forestry supports local cooperation in the production, processing, and marketing of agricultural products, with grants of up to 100 percent (or 75 percent on investments) for public and private entities operating in networks.

Towards the agriculture of tomorrow: challenges, data, and useful perspectives

A technical-economic report just published in August 2025 paints a clear picture: agriculture represents less than 1 percent of GDP and employment, but with a new, supportive institutional framework (CEISM, CCISM, DAAF) ready to support the sector thanks to European funds and local expertise.

Unsolved challenges remain: fragmented data, poorly structured supply chains, inaccessible incentives, and an economic fabric dominated by micro-enterprises. However, the reopening of the local slaughterhouse and the implementation of the Territorial Plan for Sustainable Agriculture could radically change the game, making food self-sufficiency, short-chain marketing, and socioeconomic development a reality.

At the end of August 2025, Saint-Martin will reveal a new face: an island transforming itself, becoming a hub for agricultural innovation and sustainability. The combination of consolidated local governance, European funding, excellent training, dynamic private sector initiatives, and institutional foresight (international events, cooperative projects) will create a fertile ecosystem for agricultural revival.

As Elwin Groenevelt emphasized, entrepreneurship is the instrument of social and economic transformation. And that's what Saint-Martin is building, step by step, through innovation, resilience, and a future.

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