Bioeconomy is a concept that encompasses all activities aimed at the sustainable use of resources derived from photosynthesis, such as plants, trees, and marine organisms, to create products, materials, and energy, while considering economic, social, and environmental aspects.

Role of the bioeconomy in territorial growth : The bioeconomy can be a powerful lever for territorial growth by creating value from the field to consumers. It takes a holistic approach by integrating biomass into food production, materials and energy, leading to a responsible and sustainable ecosystem.

In summary, the bioeconomy is based on the sustainable use of living resources to create products, materials and energy. It integrates economic, social and environmental aspects, seeking to find a balance between productivity and sustainability.

Agroecology is the fusion of two fields of knowledge: agriculture and environmental science. It suggests understanding nature to get the best benefits from it, without harming it. In agroecology, weeds (better known as “weeds”) and insects are no longer obstacles, but an opportunity to improve crops. Thus, what industrial agriculture strives to destroy, agroecology enhances. What we think of as weeds are in fact plants with multiple functions: some can serve as food for animals, others as insect repellents or even as fertilizer for the soil.

Agroecology offers a set of environmentally friendly agricultural methods. Unlike industrial agriculture which is based on monoculture, agroecology advocates polyculture: the fact of associating several plant or even animal species within the same agricultural plot. This diversification of species allows a form of natural solidarity, inspired by the very principle of ecosystem.

This association of species is specific to each territory, we cannot impose the same agricultural model everywhere because the characteristics of an ecosystem vary from one place to another. Thus, there are a multitude of agroecological combinations beneficial to each land.

To give a few concrete examples, carrot plantations help repel midges and leek-destroying insects. While the smell of leeks and onions scares away carrot pests. On the other hand, basil and parsley help protect tomato plantations. And fennel, for its part, protects the salad from slugs.

The other emblematic method of agroecology is agroforestry. The combination of certain varieties of trees on an agricultural plantation provides nutrients to the plants and better conserves soil moisture thanks to the shade provided by the foliage. Furthermore, tree leaves make an excellent fertilizer which improves soil fertility, and in general trees help absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

When we adopt this type of agriculture, a virtuous circle is created around the farm. Producers become independent and no longer live under the yoke of multinationals selling fertilizers, chemical pesticides and GMO seeds. The farm is self-sufficient, production costs fall and the role of the farmer is enhanced.

Agroecology requires know-how on the part of farmers. A real plant engineering that has been forgotten until now. With agroecology, everything is a question of balance. This new form of agriculture proves to us that nature is well made, and that all the solutions to agricultural problems already exist in the plant world.

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A digital library is an organized collection of electronic documents, accessible via electronic devices such as computers, tablets or e-readers. It aims to make cultural, educational and academic resources available electronically, thus eliminating the physical constraints associated with the physical space of a traditional library. These libraries often include e-books, articles, images, videos, audio recordings, archives, and other types of content. Users can access it online, search, read, download and sometimes contribute content.

Digital libraries play a crucial role in preserving cultural heritage, facilitate access to information, and support education by enabling a broader dissemination of knowledge.

Biomimicry (literally: imitation of life) involves drawing inspiration from the solutions of natural selection adopted by evolution, to transpose its principles and processes into human engineering. The approach favors “choices” tested by nature, for sustainable development in better harmony with the environment and sustainable in the long term. Coined by American academic Otto Schmitt, the term “biomimetics” can therefore be summarized in a few words as the transfer of biological models and mechanisms to technology.

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This is a set of interconnected components that work together to collect, process, store, and disseminate data for a specific purpose. These components can include hardware (such as computers, servers, storage equipment, etc.), software (such as operating systems, applications, databases, etc.), and data (such as information about customers, products, transactions, etc.). The purpose of an information system is to assist businesses and organizations in making decisions by providing accurate and up-to-date information.

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Negotiations began in 1953. They led in 1958 to the creation of the West Indies Federation between ten countries of the British Commonwealth: Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Grenada, St. Lucia, Dominica, Antigua & Barbuda , St. Kitts & Nevis, Montserrat and Jamaica.

After the independence of the large English-speaking islands in 1962 (Jamaica and Trinidad), the Federation was dissolved, and the foundations were laid for the creation of a Caribbean common market. The project was realized in two stages: first the creation of CARIFTA (Caribbean Free Trade Association – 1965/1972) then its replacement by CARICOM in 1972.

The Treaty of Chaguaramas of July 4, 19734 actually contains two agreements:

• An agreement establishing the Caribbean Community;
• An agreement establishing the Caribbean Common Market and creating the instruments of economic integration.

As early as 1966, a new step was taken with the signing of the Treaty of Basseterre (capital of St. Kitts and Nevis) on June 18, 1981, creating the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The OECS aims to better address the development problems specific to very small countries through assistance and pooling of resources (external representation, management of a common currency – the EC dollar – by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, development advice by the ECSEDA (Eastern Caribbean States Export Development Agency).

A year after the creation of the OECS, the CBI (Caribbean Basin Initiative), which in 1983 became the CBEREA (Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act). Intended for all 24 countries of the Caribbean basin except for Cuba, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, and Colombia, the CBI mainly consists of the elimination of customs tariffs for Caribbean products entering the USA. Geopolitically, the CBI can be considered a US counter-offensive to the Caribbean integration project.

Echoing the US initiative, Canada proposes a similar agreement to 26 countries in the basin aimed at facilitating trade between Canada and the CARICOM countries. This is the CARIBCAN (Caribbean-Canada Trade Agreement) announced in February 1986.

The opening provided for by Article 3 & 2 of the Treaty of Chaguaramas took place largely from the 1990s. It was first done in a spirit of coordinating relations with other regional entities: this is the CARIFORUM (Caribbean Forum) created in October 1992 and grouping the independent countries of the Caribbean signatories of the Lomé Convention linking the ACP countries to the European Union. CARICOM, not to be outdone, will multiply openings towards Japan, Spain, Chile, and South Africa (1999) and will multiply agreements and conventions with third countries or organizations.

The AEC brings together 25 countries of the Caribbean basin, including Cuba and Mexico; this allows the crossing of several cooperation organizations including CARIFORUM, the Central American common market (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua), the Group of Three (Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela) to which must be added the 5 associate members (Aruba, France on behalf of French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and the Netherlands Antilles). The AEC aims to develop intergovernmental consultation, to work on the establishment and promotion of the Greater Caribbean, a space for exchange and collaboration in the commercial, financial, cultural, scientific, political, and technological fields.

The recognized existence of a “Greater Caribbean” no longer seems to be in doubt today. The mechanisms developed within different bodies each participate in their respective fields in the construction of the Caribbean community.