Without a doubt, Caribbean farming is fraught with a broad range of challenges. Chief among them is that most of the farms are smallholdings, often in difficult locations and with relatively poor soil, which can affect yield, quality, sustainability and profitability. In our conversation with Dr Yvane Agard-Abbot, the Founder of HydroFluidics, a Deep Tech/Agritech startup, she discusses, among other things: how Microfluidic Technology can address some of the problems in the Caribbean region’s agriculture sector; the problem HydroFluidics is trying to solve; and the next steps in bringing her solution to farmers.
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In a time of climate change, increasing urbanisation and depleting arable land, a society’s ability to feed itself is crucial. According to the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, Dr Carla Barnett, at an event in 2022, “Generally, structural characteristics of our economies have meant that we import more than 60% of the food we eat, with some countries importing more than 80% of the food they eat. Over the period 2018-2020, the CARICOM food import bill was US$13.76 billion or approximately 5% of GDP” (Source: Caribbean Export).
However, in the Caribbean region, becoming a farmer or working in agriculture are considered careers of last resort – when you are not qualified to do anything else. It also means that the use of cutting-edge technology, sophisticated practices, and developing compelling national strategies with the attendant resources being allocated to agriculture have been limited in the region and more so over the past 30 years when Caribbean countries lost their preferential treatment status for bananas.
Nevertheless, we still have brave individuals who have a passion for agriculture and are committed to fostering its continued development here in the region and in the Global South.
Introducing our guest
Dr. Yvane Agard-Abbot is a Deep Tech/Agritech Startup Founder and a trailblazing scientist whose work at the intersection of nanoscience, microfluidics, and agriculture is transforming the way we approach food security and sustainable farming. As the driving force behind HydroFluidics, she is leveraging cutting-edge microfluidic technology to develop affordable, portable, and highly accurate soil nutrient testing solutions that empower farmers, enhance agricultural productivity, and build climate resilience.
With a PhD in Nanoscience and Advanced Technologies from the University of Verona, Italy, Yvane has dedicated her career to developing point-of-need diagnostic tools that are affordable, user-friendly, and scalable. Her pioneering work on paper-based microfluidic devices for forensic science and healthcare has demonstrated the transformative potential of microfluidics in resource-limited settings. These innovations align with the World Health Organisation’s ASSURED criteria (Affordable, Sensitive, Specific, User-friendly, Rapid, Equipment-free, and Deliverable), making her a leader in the field of deeptech science and innovation.
Yvane’s leadership, HydroFluidics is developing an in-situ soil nutrient testing solution that combines microfluidic technology with an intuitive mobile app. This innovation provides farmers with real-time insights into soil health, dosing recommendations, and predictive analytics for climate risks—all in a portable, easy-to-use format. By bridging the gap between advanced science and practical application, HydroFluidics is addressing the root causes of food insecurity and soil degradation in the Caribbean and beyond.
Insights into our conversation
Yvane’s life to date is a testament to the fact that every life experience can be formative and can all contribute to where an individual is today. From her early life in Saint Lucia visiting her grandfather’s farm, her initial studies in Chemistry, and her postgraduate focus on nanoscience, microfluidics, rapid testing kits, healthcare and forensic science, to now being in the process of rolling out an onsite soil nutrient testing solution at a price point accessible to Caribbean farmers, the thread is evident.
The solution Yvane is proposing is innovative and could be transformative to Caribbean farmers and farmers in other developing countries. However, we cannot get away from the stigma still attached to agriculture and that it is severely under-resourced in the region. We can only hope that the emergence of deep-tech solutions created by one of our own will put the spotlight back on agriculture and the lucrative opportunities that exist.
Below are key questions posed to Yvane during our conversation.
- What are some of the challenges you have observed in how farming or agriculture is done in the Caribbean?
- Okay, let’s step back a bit. Tell us a bit of your story.
- What is meant by Microfluidic Technology?
- You have registered a company, HydroFluidics Limited. What goods or services are you hoping the company will provide?
- Are you thinking of HydroFluidics Limited as a technology-based social enterprise?
- Is it possible for agriculture-based tech businesses to be sustainable or even profitable in the Caribbean region?
- What are the next steps in bringing your solution to farmers?
- Where would you like to see HydroFluidics Limited in the next two to three years?
We would love to hear your thoughts!
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Let’s make it happen!
Select links
Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:
Featured Images: Y Agard-Abbot; Freepik; Jame PC (Pixabay); DC Studio (Freepik)
Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell
Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez
