Agro Industry

Mauritius is highly dependent on food imports. Besides, the country is subject to natural calamities which can affect crop yields. The use of modern farming techniques will help mitigate the impact of such risks and contribute to reducing our dependency on imports. The adoption of techniques such as greenhouses, hydroponics, aquaponics, and vertical farming can be considered.

The rising concerns of consumers on the negative impact of agrochemicals has led to an increase in demand for safe fruits and vegetables. In line with the Government’s policy for bio-food production, farmers are encouraged to eliminate the use of synthetic agrochemicals and shift to environmentally friendly productions.

To foster the development of the nutraceutical sector, the Mauritian Government has initiated the development of a framework to chart the way for the private sector to engage into large-scale production of nutraceuticals and functional foods.

View PDF:  Development of a Nutraceutical Framework and Industry in Mauritius

In a bid to guide existing and aspiring operators in the nutraceutical arena, the EDB has developed a user-friendly database which boasts optimized information on more than hundred plants with nutraceutical potential. The database can be consulted at: http://app-edb-nutra.azurewebsites.net/

Government has introduced several incentives to encourage investment in the nutraceutical sector and establish the proper ecosystem for transformation of crops with high nutraceutical potential into value-added products.

Food processing presents opportunities to minimise post-harvest losses; increase shelf life of farm produce; and reduce imports. Numerous investment opportunities exist for the transformation of agricultural products and livestock into products for intermediate or final consumption.

Agricultural Biotechnology is gaining momentum globally especially with the degradation of our environment as a result of climate change. These circumstances provide impetus for the application of biotechnology to food and food crops in the future. While it is still at infancy stage in Mauritius, Agricultural Biotechnology has brought a positive impact in many countries. Prospects in Mauritius are enormous.