Caribbean Broilers (CB) Group’s newly opened air chill poultry processing plant marks a key step in Jamaica’s efforts to reduce reliance on imported poultry and strengthen its position in regional food security.

Located at the company’s expansive 1,000-acre eco-industrial park in Hill Run, St Catherine, The Nest, as it is called, is central to CB Group’s goal of making Jamaica a net exporter of poultry by 2035.

In an exclusive interview with the Jamaica Observer after the launch of its $15-billion facility on Wednesday, CEO Matthew Lyn outlined CB Group’s strategy to achieve food self-sufficiency. Highlighting the current state of the industry, he noted that while Jamaica produces 80 per cent of its poultry needs, imports still fill part of the market. Lyn emphasised that the expanded capacity at the new plant is not only a response to local demand but also a step toward positioning Jamaica as a regional supplier.

“While we’re nearing self-sufficiency, the challenge has been scaling up to meet demand,” Lyn said. “With the new plant, we’re in a better position not just to meet local demand but to supply the wider Caribbean market, where countries still rely on imports.”

The air chill plant, which has a processing capacity of 12,500 birds per hour, is currently operating on a single shift, processing as many as 100,000 birds daily. Plans are already in place to expand operations, with a potential move to a two- or three-shift system as demand increases.

“As we scale up, we’ll be working with independent farmers who are investing in infrastructure,” Lyn explained. “This will create opportunities for small businesses and jobs across the agricultural sector, which is critical for Jamaica’s economic growth and development.”

In addition, Lyn said farmers integrated into the operation will be encouraged to adopt sustainable, climate-controlled practices.

The Caribbean’s poultry market presents a significant opportunity for Jamaican producers. While Jamaica has a higher level of poultry self-sufficiency than many regional counterparts, the Caribbean as a whole is still only 70 percent self-sufficient in chicken. This gap creates a $200-million annual market for Jamaican producers.

“Our next step is to tap into the Caribbean market,” Lyn told the BusinessWeek. “As the region seeks to reduce extra-regional imports, we see an opportunity to be a leading supplier of poultry within Caricom.”

To support its growth, CB Group is making substantial investments in related businesses across the group of companies, including its hatchery and feed mill. Over the next two years, the company also plans to facilitate over $2.5 billion in investments from independent poultry farmers, each of whom will invest upwards of $250 million in modern farming infrastructure. This expansion will not only boost poultry production but also benefit other sectors dependent on chicken, such as egg production, pork, dairy, and livestock farming.

Lyn emphasised that this strategy is about creating a long-term, scalable agricultural ecosystem that meets both local and regional needs. “Agriculture’s long-term value is crucial to Jamaica’s economy,” he said. “Our goal is to build a resilient industry that benefits everyone in the supply chain, from farmers to consumers.”

The air chill plant also introduces a significant shift in poultry processing technology. While the traditional water-based chilling method remains prevalent worldwide, the air chill system uses cold, purified air to lower the temperature of the birds after slaughter. This method improves the quality of the meat, reduces the risk of contamination, and, crucially, saves millions of litres of water, the company says. CB Group estimates a savings of approximately 250 million litres of water annually, and all water used at the facility will be treated and repurposed for irrigation at The Nest’s 500-acre Harvest Hub.

Beyond its focus on poultry production, CB Group is also making strides in sustainability. A partnership with JPS Co has resulted in the development of a 10-MW combined heat and power (CHP) plant, which captures waste heat from the facility’s generators to produce steam in an energy-efficient manner. The project will not only reduce the plant’s environmental impact but also improve electricity reliability in the surrounding St Catherine region.

“The facility is designed with sustainability in mind. It’s about creating a closed-loop system where every aspect of the operation contributes to the overall efficiency and sustainability of the business,” the group CEO said.

The Nest also houses several other key operations, including Hill Run Farms, a research and training facility for livestock, and a protein plant, the only one of its kind in Jamaica. These facilities work synergistically within CB Group’s zero-waste, eco-industrial model, with all water used in the plant being recycled and repurposed for irrigation. This approach is part of the company’s broader commitment to circularity and waste reduction.

“The vision for The Nest is a self-sustaining ecosystem where every operation works together to create a sustainable future for agriculture,” Lyn concluded. “This is about more than just producing poultry; it’s about creating a model for sustainable farming in the Caribbean.”