By: Staff Writer
February 28, 2025
A report published by the Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) says that geothermal is needed for smart agriculture to flourish in Belize and the wider Caribbean
The report, “Geothermal energy in agrifood systems,” said: “From a technology coupling point of view, an important geothermal energy coupling is with optimisation technology, including artificial intelligence-led systems for controlled environment agriculture (CEA), smart agriculture building designs and synergistic solar-thermal technology interfaces. In sum, this baseline work brings into view the perceived need for small-scale, affordable, energy-efficient, environmentally sustainable, and locally autonomous geothermal R&D projects in Belize. Working towards developing an R&D project at the University of Belize’s Central Farm campus would provide practical small steps for agrifood community demonstration and which may one day be more portable across the agrifood system.”
The report also serves as a recap of Geothermal Week Belize, an event organized by QUB with the University of Belize and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI).
A baseline assessment indicated that the geothermal technologies has had a negligible effect so far on the agrifood sector in Belize. There is, however, a need for more measures the reduce the energy costs in production and processing in the agrifood sector. Moreover, geothermal can maximize efficiency, reduce crop costs, and provide optimal growing conditions year-round, thus increasing crop yield.
The report also said: “The Caribbean Community (Caricom) region is vulnerable to climate change. Located beneath Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and adjacent to the warmest basin of water on planet earth – the Gulf of Mexico – Belize showcases and exemplifies climate variability in weather extreme terms – significant rainfall, flash floods, heatwaves, drought and flooding. Like other countries in the wider region, the blunt reality is that Belize is facing new climate change pressures and challenges, These corollary test existing capabilities of whole business sectors, energy infrastructures and food systems.
Nowhere is this impact more acutely felt than in the agrifood sector – agrifood systems – for example in the production and processing of chilli peppers, bananas, citrus fruits, sugar beet, coconuts, nuts and seafoods. Persistent and frequent tropical storms and hurricanes impact business economics, growing conditions and the cost of energy and security. However, adapting to what is happening and understanding what possibilities are open to agrifood producers and processors, can place their destiny in their own hands. This adaptation is difficult. But it is essential.