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Piano grass (Themeda arguens), reputed to have been introduced to Jamaica as packing material in an imported piano1 . There are about 27 varieties of this highly invasive grass/weed worldwide[1] and in Jamaica the species previously identified as Themeda arguens is of concern as it has progressively taken over lawns, pastures and roadsides [1]. The grass is of particular concern to livestock farmers due to its highly invasive and aggressive nature and the concomitant negative effect on livestock productivity, especially during its annual seeding period (November/December – April) [2], when the palatability of the grass diminishes significantly and the seed awns can cause severe damage to the mouth when consumed, and feet of livestock [2], sometimes requiring veterinary intervention.
The burgeoning of small gourmet chocolate boutiques worldwide serves as a key driver for niche and ultra-niche marketing of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.), branded as (a) geographical indication (b) estate origin or (c) based on unique genetics. Over 90% of the cacao farms globally, are small with an average size between 2 and 5 hectares and can benefit from supplying to the gourmet boutiques.
At the inception of automated solar tracking in the 1970’s, geometric architectures with pair(/s) of solid-state photo-sensitive devices were constructed and used to detect the sun’s position. As an alternative in recent years, cameras have been used to capture and process live sky images to detect the sun’s position. When the sky is cloudy however, both approaches are prone to errors and sometimes require human intervention which tend to reduce the trackers’ economic viability [1].
Moderator: Mrs Paula-Ann Porter-Jones - Broadcaster & Communications Consultant. Panelists:Dr the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell - Former Prime Minister of Grenada and Former Lead Head of Government in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet with responsibility for Science and Technology, including ICTThe Honourable Floyd Green - Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Government of Jamaica; Professor Colin Gyles - Acting President, University of Technology, Jamaica; Professor Dale Webber - Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Mona Campus, at The University of the West Indies (UWI); Professor Clive Landis - Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Cave Hill Campus, at The University of the West Indies (UWI); Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine - Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the St Augustine Campus, at The University of the West Indies (UWI)
Economic development theorists ((Schumpter 1942), (Romer, 1994), (Solow, 1956)) have established the theoretical constructs of scientific and technological developments as foundations to innovative solutions in the form of products, processes and services to long-term socio-economic development and prosperity to high-end economies around the world. It is through the pervasiveness of these innovations within markets which then spurs a sustainable social transformation and long term economic growth within nations.
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