Cutting edge research, real-world impact and career-ready graduates - discover how The University of Trinidad and Tobago is shaping the future of food, farming and sustainability

The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), through its Biosciences, Agriculture and Food Technologies (BAFT) programmes at the Eastern Caribbean Institute of Agriculture and Forestry (ECIAF) Campus in Centeno, is redefining the future of agriculture in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean.

Driven by its core mission of teaching, research and service, UTT has positioned the ECIAF Campus as a national hub for agricultural innovation. At UTT ECIAF Campus, science is not confined to the laboratory, but actively applied to solve real-world challenges facing farmers and the food production sector.

UTT's investment in advanced, applied research is at the heart of this impact. Equipped with modern technologies such as ultrasonography and Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) systems, UTT's scientists are tackling one of the most critical issues in livestock farming - reproductive efficiency.

UTT has delivered measurable results through the development of cost-effective Timed Artificial Insemination (TAI) protocols. Pregnancy rates in cattle have increased from as low as 8-10% to over 40%. This significantly improves productivity and farm profitability. UTT researchers have also pioneered innovative techniques to induce and sustain milk production in cattle, including heifers, without prior pregnancy, creating new opportunities for dairy farmers.

UTT's impact also extends to the preservation and advancement of the indigenous Buffalypso water buffalo. In response to the threat of brucellosis, a zoonotic disease affecting both animal and human health, UTT introduced TAI in buffaloes locally. This breakthrough reduces the need for direct animal contact, limiting disease transmission while simultaneously improving genetic quality and reproductive outcomes.

Further scientific breakthroughs at ECIAF include pioneering research into buffalo reproduction biology. UTT scientists were the first researchers to establish a link between Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) levels and reproductive response in buffaloes, opening new possibilities for improving embryo transfer success and advancing herd selection strategies.

UTT's research in small ruminants is helping farmers to produce more efficiently. Locally validated protocols now enable synchronised breeding cycles and faster rebreeding without weaning. This work has contributed to international recognition, including U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of Controlled Intravaginal Drug Releasing Devices (CIDRs), underscoring the global relevance of UTT's research.

UTT is also addressing emerging agricultural threats. Its research into the reproductive behaviour of the Giant African Snail, an invasive pest affecting both agriculture and residential communities, supports more strategic and effective control measures to protect food security and public health.

UTT's commitment to national development is also evident in its strong extension and industry engagement programmes. Each year, TAI technologies developed at UTT are applied to thousands of animals, directly increasing productivity within the livestock sector. The introduction of sexed semen technology further supports herd expansion by increasing the proportion of female offspring.

UTT's role in building human capacity is equally important. Since hosting Trinidad and Tobago's first artificial insemination and embryo transfer workshop in 2009, the university has trained farmers, technicians and professionals across the region. Strategic partnerships with international institutions, as well as local stakeholders such as Nestlé and the Livestock and Livestock Products Board, continue to strengthen this impact.

This means more than just a degree for students. It constitutes hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies, direct engagement with industry and the opportunity to contribute to solutions that matter. UTT graduates emerge as highly skilled, career-ready professionals, equipped to lead in agriculture, food production, research and sustainability.

Through this seamless integration of research, teaching, and service, UTT's ECIAF Campus is not only advancing agricultural science, cultivating innovation and strengthening food security, but building a more resilient future for Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean.

This article is submitted by the BIOSCIENCES, AGRICULTURE AND FOOD TECHNOLOGIES (BAFT) UNIT, UTT

For further information on UTT's Biosciences, Agriculture and Food Technologies programmes, visit www.u.tt/baft, at 642-8888 ext. 23139 or email lygia.mitchell-smith@utt.edu.tt

Professor Marlon Knights, Professor, Biosciences Agriculture and Food Technologies, UTT conducting a Timed Artificial Insemination (TAI) in a female water buffalo at UTT ECIAF Campus.

The devastating and devouring reality of the Giant African Snail's impact to food security.