The Renewable Energy Industry in CARIFORUM Countries

COUNTRY INDICATOR ANALYSIS

4.5.8 | AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is a major consumer of energy in the process of food cultivation and production. This sector is particularly interesting because it traditionally focused on producing food and is now becoming a part of the energy sector where land and crops are key resources to produce biofuels, thereby creating a food- fuel conflict. Animals used for food production which produce substantial waste can now contribute waste to produce biogas. Sustainability in agriculture can therefore help to safeguard the sustainability of the energy sector in the long term. See contribution of agriculture to national GDP below.

AGRICULTURE % GDP CONTRIBUTION

25%

20%

15%

10%

5%

0%

Haiti

Belize*

Jamaica

Guyana*

St. Lucia

Grenada

Bahamas

Barbados

Dominica

Suriname*

St. Vincent &

the Grenadines

St. Kitts & Nevis

Trinidad & Tobago

Antigua & Barbuda

Dominican Republic

Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics Figure 4.13 | Percentage Contribution of Agriculture to GDP by Country

Despite the performances of the agriculture sector, all countries recognize the importance of this sector and want to see it improved, not just for food production but also for its potential contribution to the energy sector. The biofuel subsector is directly linked to and dependent on a resurging agriculture sector to solve one of the most significant energy challenges for the Caribbean. The advancement of biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel, even though very necessary, must occur in a collaboration environment including ministries responsible for land use, water resources,

energy and agriculture. The agriculture sector uses significant amounts of water and the water sector uses significant amounts of energy. The sector aims to see: - • Supply of bagasse for electricity generation. • Supply of other plant as off-season fuel to complement bagasse. • Installed capacity at farms to produce biogas for electricity or burning. • Conservation of water to reduce energy consumption. • Recycling and harvesting of water to reduce the energy requirements to pump it.

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The Renewable Energy Industry in CARIFORUM Countries