Press Release
Hon. Osmond Martinez, Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Transformation, visited the Florida Crystals milling operation facilities in Okeelanta, Florida on 11 December 2025, hosted by ASR President, Luis J. Fernandez.
The purpose of the visit was to understand the many advances and synergies that ASR can bring to the Northern sugar industry in Belize. The Minister witnessed the operations of the sugar mill, milling 24Kmt of sugar cane daily during crop, and ASR’s world-leading Agricultural Centre of Excellence (ACE).
A particular focus was given to supporting cane farmers in Belize to improve the productivity, quality, and resilience of their sugar cane for supply to Belize Sugar Industries. This is a prerequisite for the viability of the Northern sugar industry.
The Minister witnessed the operations of the Florida Crystals Tissue Culture Lab, which can propagate 10,000 seedlings from each individual sugar cane. ASR has supported the tissue culture operation at the University of Belize which will initiate the seed propagation of new, more resilient cane varieties which BSI has developed in partnership with the West Indian Central Cane Breeding Station in Barbados over the last ten years. These will then be multiplied through the tissue culture process in Florida which will be able to provide 75,000 seedlings per month for replanting in Belize. This cutting-edge technology will help farmers to rapidly diversify their cane varieties making the crop more climate-, disease- and pest- resilient and massively improve productivity and, therefore, farmers’ revenue.
The Minister also witnessed the Florida Crystals biochar facility, which creates a pure carbon product from rice husks which can rejuvenate soil health and reduce reliance on costly fertilizers. BSI plans to develop similar technology in Belize.
Minister Martinez and Luis Fernandez discussed a road map for the revival of the Northern Belize sugar industry based on the recent Commission of Inquiry outcomes and ASR’s sustainability model, to make it viable and profitable for all industry stakeholders in the future. This public-private sector partnership will pave the way for future investment and greater efficiencies supporting the long-term objectives of the industry.
The post Minister Osmond Martinez visits Florida Crystals Facilities appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Press Release Hon. Osmond Martinez, Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Transformation, visited the Florida Crystals milling operation facilities in Okeelanta, Florida on 11 December 2025, hosted by ASR President, Luis J. Fernandez. The purpose of the visit was to understand the many advances and synergies that ASR can bring to the Northern
The post Minister Osmond Martinez visits Florida Crystals Facilities appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
