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Summary , Recommendations & Reference

Summary

Smart farming, Aquaponics and Hydroponics, and renewable energy integration offer promising solutions to Jamaica's food security challenges. Smart farming, facilitated by IoT technology, enables efficient monitoring and management of agricultural operations, leading to increased productivity, reduced waste, and improved crop yields. Aquaponics and hydroponics in Jamaica offer soil-free farming, higher yields, and predictable production, mitigating land degradation and weather-related risks for enhanced food security. Renewable energy integration presents an avenue to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and promote sustainable agricultural practices, with projects like solar-powered irrigation systems and hydroelectric-powered processing facilities demonstrating tangible benefits for local farming communities. By leveraging these technological innovations, Jamaica can address its food security concerns and build a more resilient and sustainable food system for current and future generations.

Recommendations

As educators, we believe that Food Security and its importance should be taught in schools. With the growing technological world, we should also emphasize the use of technological advancements and tools to help the agricultural economy and ensure food is available, accessible, affordable, and nutritious for all Jamaicans. Also, the Jamaican government can emphasize the measures talked about in this blog and fund, implement, and popularize these initiatives amongst the population.




Reference
World Bank Group. (2023, August 28). What is food security? there are four dimensions. World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/agriculture/brief/food-security-update/what-is-food-security 
Food crisis Grips Jamaican homes, report finds. Lead Stories | Jamaica Gleaner. (2022, April 27). https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20220427/food-crisis-grips-jamaican-homes-report-finds 
Jamaica – National Food and Nutrition Security policy. (n.d.). https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/jam148770.pdf 
General profile. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (n.d.). https://www.fao.org/countryprofiles/index/en/?iso3=jam 
Get the facts – climate-smart farming practices. Jamaica Information Service. (n.d.). https://jis.gov.jm/information/get-the-facts/get-the-facts-climate-smart-farming-practices/ 
International Institute for Sustainable Development. (2024, March 12). https://www.iisd.org/ 
Renewable Energy for Agri-Food Systems. (n.d.-b). https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2021/Nov/IRENA_FAO_Renewables_Agrifood_2021.pdf 
AgroBuzz feature - commissioning of the Little Park Solar-powered Pump Station. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining. (2022, January 7). https://www.moa.gov.jm/content/agrobuzz-feature-commissioning-little-park-solar-powered-pump-station 
Renewable energy. Energy.gov. (n.d.). https://www.energy.gov/eere/renewable-energy#:~:text=Renewable%20energy%20comes%20from%20unlimited,%2C%20natural%20gas%2C%20and%20oil 
Extreme drought: Food shortage worsens, famers not planting out of fear: TVJ News. YouTube. (2023, October 20). https://youtu.be/8SjpT0jyxUQ?si=oDFP0mSpYNYUfytm 
Agrobuzz January 5, 2022- the little park solar-powered Pump Station. YouTube. (2022, January 5). https://youtu.be/xCTTRfvXkfo?si=Sm-Rthjb1HwA-3rP 
Vergeer, A. (2023, September 23). Aquaponics vs. hydroponics: What’s the difference? Go Green Aquaponics. https://gogreenaquaponics.com/blogs/news/hydroponics-with-fish-and-aquaponics#:~:text=Aquaponics%20and%20hydroponics%20are%20both,water%20to%20grow%20the%20plants.
Dupuis, A. (2024, April 4). 10 Benefits of Hydroponics in agriculture & Vertical Farming | Eden Green. Eden Green. https://www.edengreen.com/blog-collection/benefits-of-hydroponics
Vergeer, A. (2023, November 11). The benefits of aquaponics. Go Green Aquaponics. https://gogreenaquaponics.com/blogs/news/what-are-the-benefits-of-aquaponics
Soilless cultivation - What makes a good medium? | CANNA UK. (n.d.). https://www.canna-uk.com/what_makes_good_quality_soilless_growing_medium

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