From left, Minister of Agriculture & Marine Resources Jomo Campbell, Inspection Program Coordinator of the Plant Protection Unit Dr. Ezra Bartholomew, and Director of the Plant Protection Unit Yasmin Johnson cut the ceremonial ribbon to launch BAHFSA’s mobile plant health lab. Photo: Torrell Glinton
The mobile laboratory is the first in the region
The Bahamas Agricultural Health Food and Safety Authority (BAHFSA) officially opened its head office yesterday on Crawford Street in Oakes Field, and also officially launched a mobile plant health laboratory.
Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Jomo Campbell said yesterday at the official opening ceremony, that the mobile laboratory is the first in the region, and will revolutionize plant health diagnostics, bringing essential testing capabilities directly to farmers and stakeholders throughout the entire country.
“This mobile lab will significantly decrease response times for pests and disease identification, thereby safeguarding vital crops such as pineapples and coconuts from emerging threats.”
The lab assists with export facilitation
Campbell said enabling BAHFSA to meet emerging crop threats head on is crucial to meeting international phytosanitary standards and ensuring smoother trade in export facilitation.
“The mobile lab will serve as a crucial tool for nationwide surveillance, enabling swift detection of invasive species and diseases before they can spread.”
Campbell also said: “Every test conducted, every inspection performed and every certification issued by BAHFSA strengthens our Bahamas into a country that can sustainably and safely feed its own people.”
Campbell continued: “In late 2026, BAHFSA will launch the first biosecurity level 3 mobile veterinary laboratory. We envision this authority evolving into a beacon of excellence that embraces innovation and cultivates the next generation of Bahamian scientists and inspectors. These efforts represent The Bahamas’s proactive approach to pandemic prevention and preparedness through the latest available technology. Together, we aim to create an authority that commands respect both regionally and globally, ensuring our nation thrives at the forefront of food safety, animal and health.”
