(THANKS TO DAILY NATION) A number of Barbadians stand to benefit from a major aquaculture programme facilitated by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Adams Aquafarm and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.

The project entails a five-day training exercise for 30 entrepreneurs interested in developing an aquaponics business. Training will also be provided for ten school teachers, who can use the principles of growing food by this method to teach STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects.

The training will be done at Adams Aquafarm in Hopewell, St Thomas. Owner Kristina Adams recently received funding from the FAO to help train and develop a demonstration farm.

During the launch of the initiative yesterday, Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy Kirk Humphrey said aquaponics was a transformative venture that could empower the lives of those who got involved in it.