The Jamaican Education AgriTech (EAT) Initiative is a pioneering non-profit program whose mission is to equip the next generation of Jamaicans with the skills and knowledge necessary to lead agricultural resilience through innovation. By offering hands-on training in Hydroponics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet-of-Things (IoT), Photovoltaic Solar Systems, Manufacturing and Computer-Aided Design (CAD), the program fosters technical expertise by promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. Through this initiative, students will compete in a contest to design, build, and refine automated hydroponic systems, with the goal of manufacturing and distributing them to high schools across Jamaica. Prizes will be awarded for the best design.
Program Details
Objectives
The program's objectives include raising awareness of climate change, increasing the number of students enrolling in AgriTech courses, and contributing to the development of AgriTech curricula in Jamaican universities and high schools. The program will expand student skills in the areas of Hydroponics, IoT, AI, Photovoltaic Solar Systems, Manufacturing and Computer Aided Design (CAD).
Contest Design Requirements and Judging Criteria
The program's primary deliverable is the development of automated hydroponic systems for high schools. The hydroponic systems must accommodate 50 plants of lettuce, bok choy, or kale, with a four-week maturation period. The systems must also integrate solar energy and IoT hardware and software for automated management. The systems must be commercially viable, effective for high school training, and recyclable for multiple uses. Systems will be judged based on total crop yield, budget, materials, space, and training efficacy.
Program Phases
The initiative is structured into five phases. These phases span a two-year period and will culminate in the implementation of scalable hydroponic systems in high schools throughout the island.
- Phase I: University student participants are enrolled in an AgriTech course consisting of the following modules: (1) Hydroponics; (2) IoT and electronics; (3) AI; (4) Solar; (5) CAD and manufacturing.
- Phase II: Leveraging the knowledge and skills learnt in Phase I, student teams compete in proposing the best design and manufacturing plan for a practical hydroponics learning kit targeted at high school clientele.
- Phase III: Shortlisted teams are supported in the development of proof of concept (POC) systems which will be tested by having the system grow specified crops.
- Phase IV: The winning design will be further refined toward the production of a ready-for-market final product (hydroponics learning kit).
- Phase V: The first batch of hydroponics learning kits are produced and delivered to targeted high schools.
Impact
The EAT impact will include but is not limited to the following:
- Number of Student participants served: 30
- Number of hydroponic systems delivered: 100
- Number of high schools served: 100
- Number of high school students served: 250 per school for a total of 25,000
- AgriTech curriculum that will be made available to future students: Immeasurable!
Prizes
- Laptops and printers utilized during the program will be rewarded
- A chance to enter into the Microsoft Imagine Cup for a potential prize of $100,000 USD
Timeline
- May - June 2025: Learn about Hydroponics, AI, IoT, CAD, Solar and Manufacturing
- June - July 2025: Design and Build five proof-of-concept (POC) systems
- Aug – Jan 2025: Cultivate and monitor crops from POC systems
- Jan 2026: The winning design is selected
- Jan – Feb 2026: Design manufacturing systems and build five production systems
- March – May 2026: Distribute systems to five high schools, iterate and improve
- June – November 2027: Manufacture and deliver remaining 95 production systems
Participation
About Us
The EAT Initiative is the collaboration of Jamaican and U.S. change agents across Technology, Agriculture, Education, and Manufacturing. EAT is designed to address the challenges of climate change and its impact on food security through innovative, technology-driven solutions.
