U.S. Virgin Islands, April 23, 2026 – On Friday, April 17, the Local Food and Farm Council (LFFC), co-chaired by Dr. Louis E. Petersen, Jr., Commissioner, Department of Agriculture and Dr Safiya George, President, University of the Virgin Islands, passed an urgent resolution.

Proposed by a local farmer, Royce Creque, and home gardener Harith Wickrema, and seconded by farmer Dr. Nate Olive, the motion was adopted unanimously.

We, the members of LFFC, appeal to the Virgin Islands Waste Management
Authority (VIWMA) and our senators to change course and support a sustainable
waste management policy whereby the USVI prioritizes the chipping, shredding and
composting of our green and brown debris in order to support agriculture and our
farming community as opposed to burning this rich resource.

One of the biggest challenges for farmers is the poor soil quality of our land in the
territory. Vegetative debris is an invaluable resource which can be turned into much
needed compost and mulch. We consider this material as “black gold” as it adds
essential nutrients back into our soil. In addition to serving as an agricultural product
and soil amendment for farmers and gardeners, it can also be used for landscaping
and erosion control as well as an export product similar to Puerto Rico’s compost.

We urge our policy makers not to rob our farmers of this precious natural resource.

Ninety-seven percent (97%) of our food supply is currently imported, a fact that led to
the passage of Act 8404, mandating the creation of a Territorial Agricultural Plan in
2021 to support food security and food sovereignty. In order to ensure the success of
this Plan, which the LFFC was established to manage, a primary need is the
improvement of our soil quality.

Dr. Nate Olive, President of VI Farmers Alliance, shared his firsthand feedback from
farmers who are asking for clean mulch and compost to increase yield. The way to
reduce green waste from entering our overburdened landfills is to start chipping,
mulching and composting tomorrow and not wait for a lengthy legal process that air
curtain incineration will face.

Please help support food security, the livelihood of our farmers, and the health and
welfare of our community by chipping, mulching and composting our vegetative
debris.

The LFFC is charged with guiding the implementation of the Territorial Agricultural Plan and its eight mandates, which were approved and endorsed by the Governor and ratified by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands.

The Local Food and Farm Council is made up of 17 members, including Co-Chairs Dr. Louis E. Petersen, Jr., Commissioner, Department of Agriculture and Dr. Safiya George, President, UVI; Dr. Usman Adamu, Dean and Director of the School of Agriculture, UVI; Dr. Dionne Wells-Hedrington, Commissioner, Department of Education (VIDE); Jean-Pierre L. Oriol, Commissioner, DPNR; Wayne L. Biggs Jr., CEO, USVI Economic Development Authority; Honorary Farm Members Abeba Sellassie, Ityopia Rootz Farm; Dr. Nate Olive, Ridge to Reef Farm; Edmon Titre, New Breed Farm; Royce Creque, Greenridge Guavaberry
Farm; Honorary Fisher Members Winston Ledee and Mavel Maldonado; VIDE Designees Dr. Renee Charleswell, Deputy Commissioner of Curriculum and Instruction, VIDE; Harith Wickrema, President, Island Green Living; and Cydney Meadows, Territorial Director of Sustainability & Agricultural Education, Division of Curriculum & Instruction, VIDE; and DPNR Designees Dr. Nicole Angeli, Director of Fish & Wildlife, DPNR and Dr. Sennai Habtes, Bureau Chief, Fisheries, DPNR.

For more information or to share feedback, please contact 340-693-1003 or
vilocalfoodandfarmcouncil@doa.vi.gov. Please visit www.vilocalfoodandfarmcouncil.org.