Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Growth, Innovation, and Impact

Coffee Cherries at small farm in Micoud Saint Lucia

One of the most enlightening experiences of the year was our visit to Saint Lucia, hosted by our esteemed partner, Greening the Caribbean. This journey allowed us to immerse ourselves in the island's rich agricultural sector, meeting with farmers and gaining firsthand insight into their traditional and evolving farming practices.

A highlight of our visit was Happi Farm in Jacmel, Anse La Raye, where we witnessed the beginning stages of the transition towards a more regenerative agricultural model—integrating crops and livestock with an element of agritourism. We also explored the expansive banana plantations in the Roseau Valley and engaged with cocoa and coffee farmers in Micoud, who proudly uphold pesticide-free growing customs. One farmer's words still resonate with us:

Drying Cocoa Beans often used to make cocoa sticks in Saint Lucia

Beyond farming, we observed communities in the south of Saint Lucia still grappling with the persistent sargassum seaweed crisis, left largely to manage its effects on their own. Our journey connected us with several farmers and plant nurseries, and as we continue evaluating the impact of our products on Saint Lucia's soils and climate, we are excited about the potential collaborations ahead in 2025.

Back home in Barbados, our team tackled an entirely different challenge—the ongoing battle between Bajans and green monkeys over homegrown food. With the rising cost of living and nutritious foods becoming increasingly expensive, more homeowners have turned to backyard gardening. However, these efforts are often thwarted by green monkeys raiding their crops.

Enter the Veggie Vault, a protective shade house structure designed to safeguard homegrown produce from green monkeys. This innovation offers hope to many Bajans striving for greater food security and self-sufficiency. (Stay tuned for some exciting photos in the full article!)

Our presence at the SIDS Conference in Antigua was another pivotal moment in 2024. As part of the Bloom Cleantech Cluster Side Event, we shared updates on our research and advancements in biostimulants, particularly our flagship products Supreme Sea and Liquid Sunshine. Beyond the conference, we took the opportunity—just as we did in Saint Lucia—to tour the island, meet with farmers, and introduce them to our sustainable solutions, all while learning about the unique challenges they face in their growing environments.

River Bay Saint Lucy Clogged with Sargassum and Debris - Photo Credit: Dr Kim Baldwin

Sargassum seaweed continues to be an environmental and economic burden across the Caribbean. In August, we took another step towards a viable solution by trialing a custom-made barrier designed to prevent sargassum from reaching the shores, making it easier to collect and repurpose.

Despite some needed modifications for the specific test location, the barrier was successfully deployed—and to our amazement, during our trial, we rescued four leatherback sea turtles that had become trapped in the sargassum currents. This eye-opening experience underscored the massive biodiversity losses occurring due to sargassum pollution. Thanks to the support of Dr. Kim Baldwin of Marine Spatial Information Solutions, we gained invaluable insights into how River Bay's ecosystem has been devastated—not just by sargassum but also by plastic and other marine debris trapped within the sargassum influxes.

Red Diamond Compost CEO receives the Barbados Small Business Award for Sustainability presented by Senator the Hon. Lisa Cummins, Minister of Energy and Business Development

In addition to these major projects, 2024 was a year of well-earned recognition and expansion:

• Our CEO was honoured with the Small Business Award for Sustainability at the Barbados Small Business Awards—a testament to our unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and innovation.
• We launched our flagship products in Massy Farm & Garden Shops across Barbados and Ace H&B Hardware Six Roads, making our biostimulants more accessible than ever.
• We had the privilege of participating in the EU-Caribbean Global Gateway Sargassum Conference in Grenada, where we presented during the Agriculture and Construction Townhall session. The warm reception from our Caribbean family reaffirmed the importance of our work and the growing interest in our solutions.