EU Ambassador Her Excellency Malgorzata Wasilewska visits UB laboratory

On September 18th 2018, the Head of Delegation of the European Union to Jamaica, Belize, Turks and Caicos Islands, Bahamas and the Cayman Island Her Excellency Ambassador Malgorzata Wasilewska visited the newly renovated. University of Belize Central Farm Campus (UBCF), Micro Propagation Laboratory.

The renovation of University of Belize Micro Propagation Laboratory was financed by the project “Productivity enhancement of banana farms through integrated soil fertility management in the banana belt area of Belize”, which is being implemented by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) with support of the European Union (EU), the Banana Growers’ Association (BGA) and the University of Belize (UB).

The fully renovated and upgraded laboratory is for the production of quality banana meristems free of pest and disease. The laboratory roof and walls were fully renovated. The project further complimented the laboratory with an autoclave, analytical balance, hot stirring plate and AC units.

Furthermore, the project will assist UBCF in renovating its hardening facility (banana nursery), provide training for UB staff in operational procedures, surveillance system and the construction of an elevated water tank. This is to bring the laboratory facilities into compliance with international certification standards which is to initiation promptly.

The project is a joint action of the Banana Accompanying Measures (BAM) 2013 program to provide financial assistance to the Belize banana sector. It seeks to promote and to foster social and economic development, leading to the reduction of poverty, focusing on workers, their families and communities in the banana belt area of Belize.