Jamaica is staking its claim in the future of another locally grown crop by embedding a QR code authentication system for bottled castor oil.

Minister of Agriculture Floyd Green framed the initiative as a crucial step toward enhancing efficiency, minimising losses, and reinforcing Jamaica’s foothold in high-value markets. The decision comes as the industry grapples with widespread counterfeiting, which has siphoned millions from legitimate producers and eroded consumer confidence in Jamaican exports.

“With Jamaican castor oil ranking among the most sought-after in the world, counterfeit products have compromised its value and cheated farmers out of their earnings,” Green stated. He was speaking at the Jamaica Stock Exchange Regional Conference last week.

“This QR code system ensures that when consumers scan the packaging, they can trace the product’s origins, verify authenticity, and confirm its compliance with global sustainability standards.”

The integration of blockchain-backed traceability measures into a second locally-grown product marks another milestone in the Government’s broader strategy to modernise Jamaica’s agricultural sector. Jamaica is currently working on implementing the QR code technology for Blue Mountain Coffee, another globally recognised product that has faced similar counterfeiting challenges.

Plans are in place for each batch of Blue Mountain Coffee to be tagged with a unique, blockchain-enabled QR code, allowing buyers to verify critical details, including the origin, farm, harvest date, and processing methods. That’s expected to commence by mid-year, but now the Government wants to replicate the system for black castor oil.

“The Government is now replicating this system for castor oil, ensuring that every exported bottle carries a scannable digital record confirming its authenticity and adherence to production standards,” Green said.

He added that the new measures will not only protect Jamaica’s revenues but will also ensure that new deforestation standards for agriculture under the European Union (EU) will be met. New trade laws in the European Union and the UK require exporters to demonstrate sustainable sourcing, ethical labour practices, and climate-resilient production methods. Failure to comply could see Jamaican goods locked out of major international markets, making traceability technology not just an advantage, but a necessity.

The Blue Mountain Coffee model was developed in partnership with key industry organisations. While the Government has not yet disclosed specific collaborators for the castor oil initiative, it is likely to involve the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) and the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA)—two entities that have been instrumental in safeguarding Jamaican brands and expanding their market reach.

Advancements in agri technology

Beyond castor oil, Jamaica is undertaking a comprehensive technological overhaul in its agricultural sector. Investments are being channeled into seed technology research, AI-driven soil management systems, and cold storage solutions powered by renewable energy to mitigate post-harvest losses and optimise yields.

The deployment of drones in land preparation, irrigation, and fertilisation is another key area of transformation, drastically cutting labour costs and improving efficiency.

“We are now training drone pilots at our CASE and extension services, because the reality is that things like land clearance, things like fertilisation—we’re going to have to move from this one man walking around for two days to a drone coming in and doing it in 15 minutes,” the minister said.

At the same time, real-time soil monitoring technology is being integrated into farms to provide data-driven insights, allowing farmers to optimise planting conditions and reduce waste.

“We don’t speak about soil health a lot, but one of the things that we have to do in transforming agriculture is to ensure that our farmers appreciate soil health and have ways in which they can measure, so that they plan their nutrition regimes from a data-driven perspective. We’re rolling out a great program,” Minister Green said.

A $1-billion initiative is also in motion to establish cold storage facilities in key agricultural zones, ensuring produce can be stored efficiently for longer periods without succumbing to the erratic price fluctuations that often impact farmers. Unlike previous attempts at storage expansion, these new facilities will operate entirely on renewable energy, eliminating high operational costs that previously made long-term storage unfeasible.

Despite these advancements, private-sector investment in agriculture remains stagnant, with financial institutions reluctant to back a sector long viewed as high-risk. Minister Green pointed to the need for financial markets to evolve in their assessment of agricultural ventures, particularly as technology reduces inefficiencies and enhances profitability.

“We cannot afford to keep treating agriculture as a secondary investment option,” Green noted. “It is a multi-billion-dollar industry that, with the right infusion of capital, could rival any other productive sector in the economy. The infrastructure is being laid, but the real change will only come when the private sector steps in,” he said.