Develop practical systems for management of fertility of tropical and subtropical soils. Develop economically viable animal waste management systems and practices for island ecosystems. TOP Enhance the role of value-added agriculture in tropical island ecosystems. The value was then added at the raw products final destination. New knowledge and technologies must be developed which support island private sector development of new value-added products and markets.
Objectives Enhance the quality, shelf life and safety of perishable tropical agricultural products.
Develop generic technology for new and improved processing, manufacturing and marketing methods aimed at the products of tropical agriculture. Define the principles for regionalization of agricultural production, processing and marketing among U.S. island communities to expand markets, extend time of availability of perishable products, and improve supply, quality and quality control. Optimize the impact of regulatory constraints on marketing of products of tropical island agriculture, ensuring the appropriate intersection between safety and minimum constraints. TOP Expand and diversify presently unexploited food and fiber products which have potential for commercial production in the U.S. tropical and subtropical regions. Issues Tropical and subtropical island economies are rapidly changing with the decrease of plantation agriculture, the increases in tourism in the region, and the increasing demand by consumers for new product experiences.