“On a local level, this agreement translates into practical training and grass roots support for the local farmers of Eleuthera, as we help to strengthen the local farming industry through ongoing training, educational workshops, shared resources and access to the research and industry best practices farmers need to be competitive, expand operations and increase their capacity and crop production,” said Smith. He said given the current problems caused by the pandemic, now is an important time for capacity building in the agricultural sector. OEF Chairman and CTI Director Mario Smith said during a press conference to formalize the MOU at the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs, that the agreement with CARDI will create an ongoing strategic partnership, fostering developments in technology and human capital through internships and other initiatives. The collaboration is expected to introduce younger Bahamians to the best practices and latest innovations of the agricultural sector and help the country reduce its $1 billion per annum food import bill. The Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) formally entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the One Eleuthera Foundation’s (OEF) Centre for Training and Innovation (CTI) yesterday, in a move to improve local knowledge in regards to food production, especially on the island of Eleuthera.