
A major challenge facing farmers in Portland, Jamaica is dry weather, especially during the optimal growing season from April through August. During this five-month period Portland suffered from severe dry spells during the years 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2020. A second challenge is the damage to crops and land as well as loss of livestock due to tropical storms or hurricanes and the associated flooding. Portland farmers have suffered losses due to an active hurricane season numerous times and most recently in the years 2004, 2005, 2012 and 2020.
Lead, a well-known neurotoxin, remains environmentally abundant, arising from many natural and synthetic processes which encourage its environmental accumulation and hence, increased interactions with flora and fauna. Therefore, tremendous research efforts have been invested into developing various methods for its analysis and sequestration, however, affordability, sensitivity and selectivity still remain formidable challenges in this area and hence here is room for further exploration.
In recent years there has been a resurgence in interest in psychedelic assisted psychotherapy (PAP) [1]. Initial scientific research into the utilization of these compounds were eventually suspended due to concerns related to increasing recreational use of psychedelics and their association with the rise of the “counterculture movement” in the United States [2]. However, the use of psilocybin and other psychedelics have shown promise in the treatment of mental illnesses. The efficacy of this modality of treatment has been demonstrated through clinical trials and other studies in the management of a number of mental illnesses, including some treatment resistant cases [3].
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