Educational Programs and Research
This program is focused on the development of value-added products from commodities produced in the farms in the Mayan communities. This program provides more opportunities for families to generate income from the commodities farmed through the concrete solutions to maximize turnovers. Seaweed value-added products will be used as the main ingredient in soaps, lotion, moisturizers, shampoo, conditioner, etc. A small laboratory and processing facility will be provided to extract, purify, bottle, package, and stored seaweed value-added products to its stakeholder communities.
Current projects implemented by B-BLUE and partners
Independence Village Community Garden and Greenhouse Project
Independence Village is the southernmost community in Stann Creek District home to approximately 4,000 residents who work predominantly in the shipping port, banana industry, shrimp farming, and tourism industry. The purpose of the community gardening initiative is to foster partnerships with government agencies, privately owned businesses, and residents to promote agriculture as a source of income generation and to reduce dependency on the crippled tourism industry. Although this project is in its early stages, discussions have been undertaken with community members to start the design and installation of the greenhouse. The purpose of this initiative is to establish a community farming project to directly benefit the displaced tour guides, tour operators, taxi drivers, and artisanal workers as a consequence of Covid-19. B-BLUE has brought alive an old dream into an active, growing farmers’ association. This initiative will continue to build food security, create economic development, and regenerate land and culture for the people of southern Belize.
Independence Youth Action Movement Sargassum Bio-liquid Fertilizer
Sargassum masses are now “wreaking havoc” across the Caribbean, Central America, and North America. The impacts have had drastic effects on tourism, fishing, and biodiversity. These sargassum blooms are now considered natural disasters. In Belize, disaster risk management has been solely dependent on hotel and resort owners. However, its important for B-BLUE to advise the community members to remain engaged in environmental issues through public projects activities such as collecting sargassum. This also means that entrepreneurs, scientists, and farmers can collaborate in developing innovative solutions such as the organic bioliquid fertilizer from sargassum blooms in the Caribbean. The sargassum bioliquid fertilizer project is led by a group of youth organizations in Dangriga, Hopkins, Independence, Placencia, and Monkey River Village. B-BLUE is collaborating with the youths of the Independence Youth Action Movement (I-YAM). The idea is for young people to educate themselves about ways to sustainably use resources to develop innovative products that are needed for food security, agriculture smart farming, and climate change adaptation initiatives.
