The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) has initiated a project to authenticate the Antigua Black pineapple, according to Craig Thomas, IICA's Country Coordinator. The endeavor involves conducting tests in a local lab and the University of the West Indies (UWI) to identify the genuine Antigua Black pineapple. The process includes collecting planting materials from Antigua and Barbuda farmers who claim to possess the authentic variety, which will then be sent to Trinidad for analysis.
Thomas highlighted the lack of a definitive method to determine the fruit's genus, necessitating a range method for identification. This effort follows morphological characterisation studies conducted with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) during 2020-2021. The project aims to continue genotypical analytical work to confirm the pineapple's authenticity. Additionally, collaboration with Montserrat is underway to compare the Antigua Black with the Montserrat Black, which shares similar features. Despite limited funding, the project seeks to lay the groundwork for future research, with the anticipation of additional support from the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.
Source: Observer