Innovation in Action:
Building the CTI Regenerative Food Forest
Across the Caribbean, communities are exploring new agricultural systems capable of restoring soil, increasing biodiversity, and improving climate resilience. CTI’s 1-acre Regenerative Food Forest (RFF) is taking root and placing nature’s blueprint for bounty at the centre of sustainable agriculture and self-sustaining food systems.
The Regenerative Food Forest (RFF) being cultivated at CTI represents one of the island’s most exciting demonstrations of syntropic farming, an approach that mirrors natural ecosystems to create long-term agricultural productivity with minimal external inputs.
Once mature, the CTI food forest will serve as a training model for farmers, students, and environmental stewards interested in sustainable land-use systems adapted specifically for Eleuthera’s climate.
Unlike traditional farming systems, food forests naturally:
- Restore/maintain soil fertility
• Improve water retention
• Support pollinators
• Increase biodiversity
• Produce layered crops year-round
The variety of ground crops planted, including sweet potatoes (Batata), cassava (Manioc/Yuca), peppers, and yams, will pay homage to Eleuthera’s rich heritage of subsistence farming and include staple foods once grown and consumed by indigenous Arawak indians and ancestral African settlers.
Additionally, a diverse mix of over 70 resilient tropical fruit trees will be incorporated into the RFF, including sugar apple, mango, soursop, tamarind, longan, avocado, jackfruit, jaboticaba, abiu, Barbados Cherry, and breadfruit. These species were carefully selected to provide an abundance of vibrant fruit and also contribute to soil health and biodiversity.
When you give a gift, you are supporting the expansion of regenerative agriculture and training on Eleuthera. Climate-smart agriculture is essential for the next generation of agricultural entrepreneurs and for food independence.
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