Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Professional Visits
Languages
Awards
References
Extracurricular Activities
Areas Of Interest
Personal Information
Affiliations
Languages
Accomplishments
References
Timeline
Generic

Nigel Anthony Grimes

Diamond Vale

Summary

Senior agricultural professional with over 30 years of experience in Latin America and the Caribbean, specializing in agricultural development projects that enhance food security and promote sustainable practices. Demonstrated success in modernizing agricultural methods to improve efficiency and environmental sustainability. Expertise in project planning, implementation, and monitoring, with a focus on increasing farm sustainability and profitability. Highly skilled in sustainable farming practices, soil health management, and crop optimization, ensuring effective problem-solving and client satisfaction.

Overview

27
27
years of professional experience

Work History

Senior Agricultural Consultant: Project Coordinator/Technical Adviser

Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries
Chaguanas, Trinidad And Tobago
11.2022 - 05.2025
  • National Lead and Technical Coordinator for the Revitalization and Modernization of the Rice Industry in Trinidad and Tobago.
  • Member, Regional Agricultural Committee - Regional Food Ferry Project.
  • Trinidad and Tobago’s Focal Point for CARICOM 25X25 Initiative.
  • Vice Chairman, National Food Prices Committee.
  • Technical Adviser, Minister of Agriculture; CARICOM Interministerial Task Force on Agriculture.
  • Focal Point for Bilateral Task Force TT & GUYANA Agricultural Trade in Fresh Produce.
  • Trinidad and Tobago Representative - IICA Regional Meetings.
  • Trinidad and Tobago Representative FAO Regional Meetings.
  • Trinidad and Tobago Representative CARICOM - COTED Agriculture Meetings.
  • JSC Appearances Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
  • Researched and developed strategies to increase farm productivity and profitability.
  • Identified opportunities for diversifying income sources by introducing value-added products or services related to agriculture.

Senior Agricultural Consultant

01.2016 - 01.2025
  • Consultant; Development of an Integrated Sustainable Forest Management (ISFM) Plan and Site Specific Management Plan within the Iyanola North East Coast Region, St. Lucia.
  • Climate Smart Specialist. Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.
  • Heritage Petroleum Company Limited, “AgroPark Design and Business Plan for Rural Fenceline Communities”.
  • Regional Business Development Consultant; Hardware and Lumber Jamaica – H&L Agro. Jamaica.
  • Business Development Consultant. Caribbean Agricultural Development Company Limited (CADCO) Group. Trinidad registered Agro-investment Company.
  • Project Proposal Preparation; Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management. Climate Smart Agricultural Consultant for Preparation of PRODOC for Regional Global Environmental Fund (GEF) “CSIDS-SOILCARE Phase1: Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) multi-country soil management initiative for Integrated Landscape Restoration and climate-resilient food systems”.
  • Agricultural Development Plan for 200 acres, Agricultural Innovative Park. The University of the West Indies - St. Augustine. Evaluation of the UWI Agricultural Field Station UFS St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago.
  • Development Plan for Agricultural Field Station; Faculty of Food and Agriculture, UWI St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.
  • CaribInvest WI. Ltd. Consultant. Document preparation for grant funding for GCF and GEF funded projects – Dominica, WI.
  • CaribInvest WI. Ltd. Consultant Document preparation for grant funding for GEF funded projects – Dominica, WI.

Part-time Lecturer

University of the West Indies St. Augustine
St. Augustine
01.2009 - 01.2024
  • Natural Resource Management
  • Major Export Crops of the Caribbean
  • Crop Production Technology
  • Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)

Part-time Lecturer

University of Trinidad and Tobago
01.2018 - 01.2019
  • Soil Science
  • International Agriculture Trade

Programme Coordinator/Technical Adviser

Ministry of Agriculture
Port of Spain
01.2009 - 01.2016
  • Technical Advisor on the development and implementation of National Agricultural Policies, Projects and Programmes.
  • Coordinate the implementation of policies, projects and programmes in Trinidad and Tobago under a public-private partnership arrangement.
  • Provide technical support in the preparation of the Ministry's policies, plans, and programmes.
  • Facilitated the development of a suite of agri-business opportunities for private sector investment in food production.
  • Created and maintained accurate records of departmental activities, including budgets, personnel documents and project timelines.
  • Coordinated with other departments to ensure projects were completed on time and within budget.
  • Monitored project progress and provided updates to stakeholders.
  • Managed day-to-day operations of the department including scheduling tasks and assigning duties.
  • Delegated work to staff, setting priorities and goals.
  • Provided leadership, insight and mentoring to newly hired employees to supply knowledge of various company programs.
  • Researched and prepared reports required by management or governmental agencies.
  • Issued work schedules, duty assignments and deadlines for office or administrative staff.

Research and Development Manager – Agriculture

Appleton Rum Estates, J. Wray and Nephew Limited
01.2005 - 01.2009
  • Responsibility for the research, development, formulation and implementation of new technologies, strategies, programmes, projects and other initiatives aimed at improving crop production efficiencies and yields (quantity and quality) in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner.
  • Prepared Department’s strategic plans and annual budgets.
  • Advised Executive Management and Board of Directors on all crop production matters.
  • Company’s technical liaison with major stakeholders inclusive of research institutions, government agencies, suppliers, regional and international organizations, tertiary academic institutions and farming organizations.
  • Managed administrative, field and laboratory teams comprising agronomists, research, technical assistants and clerical staff.
  • Adviser to Company’s Agro-tourism Project.

Senior Production Agronomist

Appleton Rum Estates, J. Wray and Nephew Limited
Jamaica
01.2003 - 01.2005
  • Prepared Department’s annual work programme and budget.
  • Managed costs and outputs in accordance with annual budgeted allocations.
  • Designed, implemented and managed agronomy and agricultural development projects and programmes aimed at improving crop productivity and yields.
  • Conducted field evaluations and testing of new or improved products and services.
  • Prepared progress reports and recommendations.
  • Managed field and laboratory teams comprising agronomists, technical assistants and clerical staff of seven (5) employees.
  • Evaluated staff performance and developed goals and objectives for staff.
  • Provided technical advice and support to Company’s Sugarcane Production Division.

Research and Development Agronomist

CARONI (1975) LIMITED
Caroni
01.1998 - 01.2003
  • Designed and conducted research and development projects on improved agronomic practices.
  • Prepared Department’s annual budget and managed activities in accordance with budget allocations.
  • Prepared proposals and annual reports on development projects and programme activities for the crop production unit.
  • Designed and facilitated workshops, training programmes and seminars.
  • Managed staff of twenty (20) employees.
  • Provided agronomic support to the Business Development Project Unit.
  • Project Team Leader for Improved Crop Production Management Project.

Education

MSc. - Global Studies

Institute of International Relations
St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
01.2011

Post Graduate Diploma - International Relations, Environmental Policy

Institute of International Relations
St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
01.2002

MPhil. - Soil Science

UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES
St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
01.2000

Postgraduate Certificate - Integrated Pest Management

International Agricultural Centre
Wageningen, The Netherlands
01.1999

BSc. - Agronomy (Hons.)

UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES
St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
01.1989

Skills

  • Policy writing
  • Project management
  • Data analysis
  • Sustainable agriculture practices
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Technical advising
  • Crop production and management
  • Team leadership
  • Strategic planning
  • Soil science and fertility
  • Climate change adaptation strategies
  • Training and capacity building
  • Food safety regulations expertise
  • Agronomy expertise and research
  • Precision agriculture technologies
  • Field experimentation

Professional Visits

  • Antigua and Barbuda, Conference
  • Barbados, Consultancy
  • Belgium, Study Tour
  • Belize, Consultancy
  • Cuba, Study Tour
  • Colombia, Participated in International Course
  • Costa Rica, Consultancy, Regional Meetings
  • Dominica, Consultancy
  • Dominican Republic, Consultancy
  • Grenada, Consultancy
  • Germany, Study Tour
  • Guatemala, Conference
  • Guyana, Consultancy
  • India, Study Tour
  • Italy, Conference
  • Jamaica, Work Opportunity (6 years)
  • Mexico, Professional Visit
  • Netherlands, Attend Course
  • Suriname, Consultancy
  • United Kingdom, Professional Visit
  • United States of America, Professional Visit

Languages

  • English, Highly proficient
  • Spanish, Proficient speaking, good comprehension, fair writing

Awards

  • CEO’S Excellence in Leadership - Middle Management Award, 2000, Caroni (1975) Limited
  • The Netherlands Government Fellowship, 1997, Postgraduate Training in Integrated Pest Management
  • German Government Fellowship GTZ, 1989, Postgraduate Studies UWI St Augustine

References

  • Dr. Devant Maharaj, Former Minister of Agriculture - Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, ECO CANADA, dmaharaj@eco.ca, 1(403) 999-9690
  • Professor Wayne Ganpat, Former Dean, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Wayne.Ganpat@sta.uwi.edu, 1(868) 792-1721
  • Ms. Diana Francis, Country Representative, Trinidad and Tobago, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, diana.francis@iica.int, 1(868) 389-1269

Extracurricular Activities

Hiking Spin Classes

Areas Of Interest

  • Capacity Building for Rural Communities
  • Building climate resilience and improving livelihood options of persons in rural agricultural communities

Personal Information

Citizenship: Trinidad and Tobago

Affiliations

  • Working with rural communities in developing livelihood opportunities

Languages

English
First Language
Spanish
Intermediate (B1)
B1

Accomplishments

· CEO’S Excellence in Leadership - Middle Management Award 2000: Caroni (1975) Limited

· The Netherlands Government Fellowship (1997) – Postgraduate Training in Integrated Pest Management

· German Government Fellowship GTZ (1989): Postgraduate Studies UWI St Augustine

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Senior Agricultural Consultant: Project Coordinator/Technical Adviser

Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries
11.2022 - 05.2025

Part-time Lecturer

University of Trinidad and Tobago
01.2018 - 01.2019

Senior Agricultural Consultant

01.2016 - 01.2025

Part-time Lecturer

University of the West Indies St. Augustine
01.2009 - 01.2024

Programme Coordinator/Technical Adviser

Ministry of Agriculture
01.2009 - 01.2016

Research and Development Manager – Agriculture

Appleton Rum Estates, J. Wray and Nephew Limited
01.2005 - 01.2009

Senior Production Agronomist

Appleton Rum Estates, J. Wray and Nephew Limited
01.2003 - 01.2005

Research and Development Agronomist

CARONI (1975) LIMITED
01.1998 - 01.2003

MSc. - Global Studies

Institute of International Relations

Post Graduate Diploma - International Relations, Environmental Policy

Institute of International Relations

MPhil. - Soil Science

UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES

Postgraduate Certificate - Integrated Pest Management

International Agricultural Centre

BSc. - Agronomy (Hons.)

UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
Nigel Anthony Grimes