Statia launches farmer-led food initiative to boost local jobs and education
Sint Eustatius is taking steps to strengthen food security by empowering local farmers. A new initiative will supply schools with fresh produce while creating jobs and training opportunities for young farmers, setting a potential model for other Dutch Caribbean islands.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Sint Eustatius (Statia), Dutch Caribbean |
| Initiative | Farmer-led food security and sheltered workplace program |
| First Market | Schools and daycare centers in Statia |
| Target Group | Young, semi-professional farmers ("young board") |
| Supporting Organizations | Social Domain (Statia), Xploration Coastline Concept (XCC), OceansX |
| Potential Scalability | Other islands within the Dutch Kingdom |
| Date of Working Session | March 19, 2026 |
| Key Focus Areas | Local food production, jobs, education, community engagement |
The Social Domain of Sint Eustatius is responsible for social welfare, employment, and community development on the island. Its collaboration with the Xploration Coastline Concept (XCC) reflects a broader effort to integrate sustainable development with local empowerment and economic resilience.
Read the full translated article below
Concrete Steps Towards Farmer-Led Food Security
Social Domain and the Xploration Coastline Concept (XCC) align on an integrated approach — with the intrinsically driven farmer at its heart
In a collaborative and action-oriented working session on March 19, 2026, at Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, the Social Domain of Sint Eustatius and the Xplorit / OceansX team took two concrete steps forward in catalyzing a locally rooted food-cycle on Statia in relation to the realization of an integrated sheltered workplace providing jobs and education.
An exploratory meeting aligned ideas and direction for follow-on actions:
The session established a clear first market for the revamped Made in Statia farming plot: healthy, local produce supplied to Statia’s schools and daycare centers. Organizing this institutional demand creates a sustainable business foundation from day one — and a model designed to scale.
Furthermore, the session crystallized a creative idea: identify young, semi-professional farmers (a ‘young board’) on Statia and give them real responsibility — including financial resources — to design their own public benefit enterprise. The movement will be theirs to shape directly, supported by all stakeholders.
"We highlighted the integrated approach to which XCC and Made in Statia are fully aligned — with the intrinsically motivated farmer-to-be as the starting point. If this works for Statia, it could very well be scalable to other islands within the Dutch Kingdom," stated Gregory Melfor, Policy Adviser, Social Domain, and Maxime Spanner, Labour & Job Coach, Social Domain.
About XCC
The Xploration Coastline Concept (XCC) uses a semi-mobile desalination unit as a catalyst for integrated island development on Sint Eustatius — combining water infrastructure, cooperative governance, and community engagement.