Jamaica to Update Scientific Research Council Act for Modern Innovation Mandate

The Government will carry out a wide-ranging review of the Scientific Research Council (SRC) Act as part of an effort to bring the law in line with today’s standards for governance, accountability and scientific work.

Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Science, Technology and Special Projects, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, announced the planned review during his contribution to the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on June 2.

“Jamaica cannot build a 21st-century innovation economy on a 1960 legislative framework,” Dr. Wheatley said.

He said the law establishing the SRC dates back to 1960, long before several of the systems and priorities now guiding national research and innovation were in place.

“The SRC Act was enacted in 1960, before Jamaica’s modern governance frameworks, before our ST&I Policy, before biotechnology, digital transformation, and climate resilience became operational realities for a national research institution,” he said.

According to Dr. Wheatley, the review is expected to help give the SRC the legal base needed to carry out its wider responsibilities under the Jamaica National Science, Technology and Innovation Strategic Plan 2026 to 2035 and the related House of Innovation governance framework.

For the 2026/27 financial year, he said the SRC will roll out a Laboratory Information Management System to make its operations digital. The agency is also expected to introduce a digital solutions programme for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, widen its accredited analytical services, and start the Conversation in Science Podcast to build public understanding of science and encourage evidence-based discussion on national issues.

Dr. Wheatley also said the SRC has continued to produce work connected to major development needs facing Jamaica.

In agriculture and food security, he reported that the council produced 30,000 tissue culture plants, covering yam, pineapple and Irish potato, to support local food output. It also propagated 2,000 mangosteen plants through collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, and pushed forward mutation breeding research focused on disease-resistant coffee, improved ginger varieties and sweet potato that matures more quickly.

At the community level, he said 52 people in Watermount, St. Catherine, received training in pineapple cultivation and juice processing. Another 37 hot pepper farmers were trained to make jerk seasoning, with the aim of cutting losses and helping them earn more.

The Minister said the SRC’s Analytical Services Department remains central to the country’s systems for public health and trade. Between April and December 2025, the department completed more than 11,000 laboratory analyses linked to food safety, drinking-water quality and export standards.

“Major laboratory modernisation was completed this year, with three new high-precision instruments deployed: a Discrete Analyser for water-quality surveillance, an ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy) for heavy-metal and environmental monitoring, and an FTNIR (Fourier Transform Near-Infrared) spectrometer for food authenticity and adulteration detection,” Dr. Wheatley said.

He added that laboratory findings from Jamaica continue to meet ISO/IEC 17025 requirements and are recognised internationally, including by the country’s trade partners.

On innovation and business support, Dr. Wheatley said the SRC created 24 new food items and two personal-care formulations. The agency also prepared 115 nutrition facts panels to support stronger consumer protection and trained 87 entrepreneurs in product development grounded in science.

He said the Food Pilot Plant recorded a 12.5 per cent rise in production output, while drying and milling volumes climbed by 283 per cent. That work, he noted, directly assisted 68 MSMEs.

In science education, Dr. Wheatley said 584 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate students from 100 schools took part in SRC workshops. He also reported that 120 teachers were trained in science process skills, while science clubs are now operating in more than 100 schools, with special attention being given to rural communities.