Dr. Gregory Robin Retires After Decades of Service to Caribbean Agriculture

On December 6, 2024, the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) celebrated its 50th anniversary at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Auditorium. The event honoured Dr Gregory Robin, a distinguished agricultural researcher from Dominica, for his 39 years of dedicated service to the institute.

Dr. Robin began his career with CARDI in 1981 as a graduate assistant on the USAID Small Farm Multiple Cropping Systems Research project in Dominica. Over the years, he held leadership roles as the CARDI representative in Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, and Jamaica. His academic credentials include a PhD in Molecular Pathology from UWI Cave Hill and an MPhil in Agronomy/Crop Production from UWI St. Augustine.

Dr. Robin, who specialises in root and tuber crops, made significant contributions to Caribbean agriculture. He developed a commercially sustainable, year-round production system for taro in Dominica and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). His research into yam anthracnose in Dominica led to effective disease control recommendations. Additionally, he assessed how variety, planting time, and agroecological zones affect sweet potato productivity in the Eastern Caribbean.

Beyond his research, Dr. Robin represented the Caribbean on the board of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops and authored over 20 publications, including manuals. His passion for agriculture extended to his personal life, where he is an active farmer and avid sports fan in Dominica.

At the anniversary ceremony, Dorian Ettienne, CARDI's representative in Dominica, praised Dr. Robin's extensive experience in technical coordination, project management, and research diplomacy across the Caribbean, Africa, and the Pacific. Ettienne highlighted Dr. Robin's hands-on approach, noting his pivotal role in dasheen cultivation in the Belles area of Dominica. "Most of the work in dasheen in the Belles area was initiated and done by Dr. Robin," Ettienne said. "Notwithstanding his international achievements, he remained a field person at heart, committed to practical solutions for farmers."

Established in 1975, CARDI has been instrumental in advancing Caribbean agriculture. The institute focuses on commodities such as roots and tubers, cereals and pulses, hot peppers, fruits and vegetables, and small ruminants. Over the past five decades, CARDI has prioritized sustainable development by generating and applying knowledge through agricultural research, significantly enhancing the region's agricultural productivity and food security.

Dr. Robin's retirement marks the conclusion of a remarkable career dedicated to agricultural advancement in the Caribbean. His contributions have left an enduring impact on the region's agricultural landscape, exemplifying CARDI's mission to improve lives through agricultural research and innovation.