University of the Virgin Islands President Sophia George and Department of Agriculture Commissioner Louis E. Peterson Jr. updated senators on implementation of the Virgin Islands Agricultural Plan and the Local Food & Farm Council’s progress. George said the plan establishes eight mandates (regulatory modernization, business models, a local food and farm coordinator, a local food & farm fund, an advisory council, a local food label, education and data benchmarking) and that the council is advancing multiple programs to translate those mandates into action.

Key operational items: UVI runs an Ag Business Center that provides training, one‑on‑one assistance and grant‑writing help; it supported 23 active farm/fishery businesses and trained over 85 individuals in the past year. The Public‑Private Partnership Investment Fund (PIF) awarded $500,567 to 12 producers in FY2024; follow‑up visits confirmed that 80% of awardees increased production capacity through irrigation, solar pumps, greenhouses and other equipment purchases.

The council identified a local food and farm coordinator (mandate 3) — Summer Sibley Brown — but the position remains unfunded; George and Peterson asked the Legislature to approve FY2026 budget items that include funding for the coordinator, a renewed PIF cycle, the Agriculture Business Center and school agriculture programming. UVI also launched a TAP fellowship (TAP fellows to build leadership/grantsmanship capacity) and an Office of Sponsored Programs grant‑writing academy to increase access to federal and private funding.

Farm testimony: Two PIF beneficiaries — Trevor Warner (St. Croix) and Ronel Allenberg — described tangible gains: Warner said a roughly $57,000 award enabled a tractor purchase, irrigation and fencing that increased vegetable and honey production and allowed him to hire two workers and explore agritourism. Allenberg described a $5,052 equipment package that reduced costs on his apiary and packaging lines.

What happens next: The council requested legislative approval for the FY2026 Local Food & Farm Council budget (requested line items include a coordinator salary, a $1,000,000 PIF request and funding for UVI operations). The Department of Agriculture and UVI said they will continue grant searches (USDA, federal and philanthropic) and move forward with a 2026 Virgin Islands Caribbean Agricultural Conference to expand regional collaboration and technical exchange.