Belmopan, Belize – May 13, 2025 – The Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI) in Belize has now been equipped with state-of-the-art laboratory equipment, delivered under the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Multicountry Soil Management Initiative for Integrated Landscape Restoration and Climate-Resilient Food Systems (SOILCARE) Project – Phase I. The project is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Project Manager for CSIDS SOILCARE-Trevor Thompson, said “This investment is expected to significantly enhance Belize’s capacity to conduct advanced soil analysis, provide accurate diagnostics, and offer more precise recommendations to farmers.”
“Farmers across the country will be better able to manage soil fertility, reduce unnecessary chemical inputs, and improve overall crop yields—contributing to national food security and improved livelihoods.”
The official handover of the equipment took place during a brief but meaningful ceremony at SIRDI on May 7,2025. In attendance were several key stakeholders, including Mr. Fred Roches from the Ministry of Agriculture: Ms. Michelle Alvares- UNCCD Focal Point from the Ministry of Natural Resources; Mr. Marcos Osorio, Chairman of the Sugar Industry Control Board (SICB); Ing. Elbert Cowo of SIRDI; Ms. Roseli Lisbey- SOILCARE Project Assistant and Ms. Zune Canche from the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA).
Representatives welcomed the equipment as a timely and strategic boost for the country’s agricultural sector and emphasized that the improved capacity at SIRDI will support not only soil health diagnostics, but also broader national goals related to sustainable land management, climate resilience, and science-based policymaking.
The SOILCARE Project Phase I is active in eight Caribbean SIDS, including Belize, and supports regional efforts to improve soil testing capabilities, promote sustainable land management practices, and develop digital soil maps to guide decision-making in agriculture, natural resources, and other key sectors.
In addition to providing the equipment, the project also trained Caribbean Technicians including SIRDI’s laboratory staff, in Laboratory Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), and Soils Organic Carbon mapping ensuring they are equipped to operate and maintain the new systems and deliver high-quality soil testing services across the country.
The equipment handover represents another step in the long-term commitment of the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) to strengthen national capacities and improve land stewardship in the Caribbean. The initiative is expected to have broad benefits for Belize’s agricultural productivity, food systems, and environmental sustainability.
PISLM and its partners express deep appreciation to the national stakeholders and regional collaborators whose support and cooperation have been essential to the success of SOILCARE Phase I in Belize.
About the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM)
The PISLM for CSIDS is the only independent IGO with a mandate to help Caribbean SIDS meet their obligations under the UNCCD and land and soil areas of the Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA)
About the CSIDS SOILCARE Project:
Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) multicounty soil management initiative for integrated landscape restoration and sustainable food systems: phase 1” known as SOILCARE. It is a flagship project on soils funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and executed by the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) with the FAO as the implementing agency. SOILCARE seeks to empower eight Caribbean countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, and St. Lucia) to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality and advance their climate change agenda through soil knowledge.
