Phito Radio broadcasting live from the above-water vibrant St. Eustatius, at the solar park just near Mount Quill. Get ready for a lively and informative session about this form of agricultural innovation: food production under solar panels: agrivoltaics.
Agrivoltaics in St. Eustatius: Farming under solar panels
Back in 2015, a group of forward-thinking locals on Statia asked a simple but powerful question: if we build a solar park for energy, could we also grow crops beneath it? By combining energy production with agriculture, they set the foundation for what we now call agrivoltaics.
Fast forward to today, and that idea has become reality. Under the shade of solar panels, crops are growing, being harvested, and even tasted on-site. This system not only produces renewable energy but also creates a microclimate that can benefit crops—especially in hot, dry island environments.
In this episode, we break down what agrivoltaics is, what challenges it addresses, and why it matters for food security in Small Island States like St. Eustatius. With limited land and high dependency on imports, combining land uses offers a practical and scalable solution.
Join us on “The Golden Rock” for an energizing conversation on agriculture, innovation, and the future of local food systems.
Guests on this show are:
- Sara Stone – St. Eustatius Farmers Foundation
- Lina Tode – Regional coordinator at Expertise France
- Awilda Santos – Farmer
- Ervin Redan – Farmer
- Victoriano Geerman – Farmer
- Xavi Jaumejoan – Field technician at Cambisol
Special thanks to Sjahariah Fleming, Gerson Herrera, and team for their song “It’s in my DNA” featured in the video stream.
Phito Radio is brought to you by Cambisol and Alerce Environmental and is part of the European project PHITO.EU, supported and financed by 20 partners from Europe and the European Commission.
This specific episode is recorded in cooperation with the Green Overseas Programme from Expertise France, as part of the Global Gateway programme.
