The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Tobago House of Assembly’s (THA) Division of Food Security, Natural Resources, the Environment and Sustainable Development. This signing formalises an agreement between both parties to strengthen research and education-based initiatives which directly benefit local communities and drive national development.

THA’s Division of Food Security, Natural Resources, the Environment and Sustainable Development is responsible for the marketing and distribution of Tobago’s agro-based products, and improving agricultural production on the island. This makes it fitting that they have partnered with UTT’s Biosciences, Agriculture and Food Technology programmes, which are dedicated to providing technical support to agriculture practitioners, and producing food and agricultural entrepreneurs to sustain the development of our country’s food and agricultural sectors.

Present at the signing was The Honourable Farley Chavez Augustine, Chief Secretary, THA who discussed the benefits of working together to strengthen the country’s agricultural sector, starting at a foundational level, by providing training for Tobago-based students at the University’s Campus at MIC-IT's Tobago Technology Centre. This in turn, reduces the need for travel to Trinidad for this purpose, a sentiment echoed by Professor Cle?ment Imbert, O.R.T.T., Chairman, UTT, who added that this partnership will help contribute to Tobago’s resilience and progress.