ICTP 154: Leverage technology to achieve zero hunger, with Bevon Chadel Charles, of Akata Farms

In our fifth instalment on social enterprises that are leveraging ICT, we speak with the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Akata Farms in Grenada, Bevon Chadel Charles. During the course of the conversation, Bevon discusses: the ways in which Akata Farms it is leveraging technology; how and why Akata farms is a social enterprise; and the challenges of being a tech social enterprise in the agriculture sector.

ICT Pulse Podcast · ICTP 154: Leverage technology to achieve zero hunger, with Bevon Chadel Charles, of Akata Farms

This episode is also available in Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify (NEW!!) and on Stitcher!

Although the food shortages, along with unavailability of other basic supplies, that was experienced last year, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, might have been relatively brief, to many, it emphasised the need for Caribbean countries to take food security more seriously. Over the past 30 years, many of our countries have shifted from agriculture-based economies to services, which has resulted in a reduction in local food production and agro-processing facilities, and a growing food import bill.

It is also sobering to consider the growing poverty levels across the region, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Our countries have been blessed with a great weather year round, regular rains and relatively fertile soil, so it is difficult to fathom that people at the bottom of the socio-economic pyramid, especially children, do not have enough to eat.

Ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture have been established as a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was unanimously adopted by the member states of the United Nations in 2015. Moreover, it has been widely acknowledged that ICT can help accelerate progress towards every single one of the 17 SDGs, by among other things, helping to build resilient infrastructure, fostering innovation, optimising processes, and lowering costs.

Having said this, farming and ICT tend not be readily paired, but there are broad range of opportunities through which ICT can be leveraged to increase and improve farm productivity – both in terms of operation and yield. We are thus resuming our series on technology-based social enterprises – that is, tech businesses that have social impact among their core objectives. In this episode of our podcast, the focus is on farming, and Akata Farms in Grenada.

Introducing our guest

Entrepreneur, farmer and youth advocate, Bevon Chadel Charles has been dedicated to the development and transformation of Grenada’s agriculture sector into one of innovation and sustainability. As a young agriculture enthusiast and advocate for food security and scalability of agro-enterprises in the Caribbean region, she is passionate about and driven to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2, Zero hunger.

Bevon is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Akata Farms, a self-sustainable, integrated farm in Grenada. Akata Farms aims to incorporate ICT, the Internet of Things and other technologies into the agriculture industry on the island and across the wider Caribbean. She is the 2021 Caribbean Region Winner of the Commonwealth Youth Award.

Bevon is Grenada’s first Country Representative of Young Professional For Agriculture Development, an organization lead by young advocates for agriculture advancement and change. The Grenadian chapter of YPARD has grown from just 4 members in 2018 to 26 since her appointment in 2020, and she is President of the Grenadian Youth for Agriculture Development in Technology, as well as the Regional Coordinator for Sustainable Development Goals Corp, another youth driven organisation with teams across the globe.

Insight into our conversation

In chatting with Bevon, you are left without any doubt that she is running an social impact-focussed business that leverages technology. She is passionate about farming and agriculture, creating a sustainable business, and improving the food security of Grenada and the Caribbean region. The fact that her focus is agriculture – a industry that tend to get very little respect – and that she is young, female entrepreneur, make her drive and achievements even more commendable. So of the questions posed during our conversation included the following:

Tell us a bit more about Akata Farms, and what are the ways in which it is leveraging technology?
Do you think of Akata Farms as a social enterprise? What is the social good or social impact Akata Farms is pursuing?
Recently, you were the recipient of a Commonwealth Youth Award. Why were you recognised?
Tell us a bit of your story, and what drove you to set up Akata Farms?
How do you balance the social impact versus the sustainability/profitability imperatives you might have for Akata Farms?
What has been your experience navigating the agriculture space as a young female entrepreneur?
How would you describe yourself as a manager, as the leader of your organisation?
What has been the biggest lesson you have had to learn in running Akata Farms?
What is the best piece of advice you would give a tech start-up that is wants to start a social enterprise?
Where would you like to see Akata Farms in the next 3 to 5 years?

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