Antigua and Barbuda has opened a new Comprehensive Building and Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory, a facility officials say will strengthen agricultural research, improve crop production and boost the country’s food security.

The project was completed under the bilateral agricultural technical cooperation programme between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and the People’s Republic of China.

The opening ceremony brought together government officials, representatives of the Chinese Embassy, Yuan Long Ping Agricultural High-Tech Co. Ltd., CTEXIC, members of the Ministry of Agriculture and other stakeholders.

The facility was officially opened by Governor-General Sir Rodney Williams, Agriculture Minister Anthony Smith and Chinese Ambassador Jiang Wei during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 7.

Addressing the event, officials described the project as another example of the growing cooperation between Antigua and Barbuda and China in the agricultural sector.

The new laboratory is expected to expand the country’s capacity for agricultural research, training and innovation through plant tissue culture technology, which allows for the rapid production of healthy, disease-free planting material.

The Ministry of Agriculture said the facility will support the development of improved crop varieties and modern farming techniques while helping to strengthen the country’s food sovereignty and food security.

Following the ceremony, guests toured the new building and laboratory to see the equipment and technology that will be used to support future agricultural research and production.

The ministry thanked the Government of China, the Chinese Embassy, Yuan Long Ping Agricultural High-Tech Co. Ltd., CTEXIC and other partners for their role in delivering the project.