ABOUT AKATA FARMS
 Company status: Privately owned.
 Year of registration: 2016.
 Number of employees: 15 employees.
 Business sector: Agribusiness.

Bevon Chadel Charles – Founder
Bevon Chadel Charles is a Grenadian entrepreneur and agricultural innovator driving sustainable farming and inclusive economic growth. As Founder and CEO of Akata Farms, she combines climate-smart practices, digital tools, and land management to empower farmers and strengthen rural economies. She developed AkataGrow, a platform that helps farmers track and improve operations while expanding access to finance. With a background in international business, AI, and sustainability, her work bridges agriculture and innovation. Beyond business, Bevon advocates for youth leadership, gender equality, and climate resilience, representing Grenada in several regional and international networks.

CONTEXT

Background
Akata Farms was established in 2016 by Bevon Chadel Charles, a second-generation farmer and agricultural innovator. The farm operates from several fertile locations, including historically one of the island’s first cocoa plantations. Building on this legacy, Akata Farms has evolved into a modern, self-sustainable model farm integrating traditional knowledge with innovation. The company was founded with a clear objective: to transform agriculture in Grenada and the wider Caribbean by introducing structured, data-driven, and climate-resilient farming systems.

Mission: To produce safe, affordable, and high-quality food through sustainable and climate-smart agricultural practices.
Vision: To build a self-sufficient, innovative agricultural ecosystem that strengthens rural economies, empowers farmers, and connects agriculture with tourism and global markets.

Position in the market
The business was created in response to the need for a more resilient and efficient agricultural sector in the Caribbean, where high levels of food imports coexist with underinvestment in local farming. Akata Farms positions itself as an innovation-driven agribusiness that bridges agriculture, technology, and tourism while promoting inclusive economic growth.

Relationships with smallholders
The company maintains strong relationships with farmers and rural communities by sharing knowledge, promoting structured farm management, and introducing digital tools such as its AkataGrow platform. It also engages with development partners, training institutions, and funding organizations to strengthen its capacity and expand its impact. In addition, the business is developing linkages with the tourism and food sectors, particularly through farm-to-table concepts and agri-tourism initiatives.

PRODUCTS AND MARKET

Main products
Akata Farms produces a range of fresh agricultural products, including short-term crops, vegetables, fruits, and, increasingly, livestock and poultry. The farm emphasizes the use of safe and healthy production methods, avoiding harmful inputs and focusing on sustainability. In addition to fresh produce, the company is aiming to develop value-added products derived from its agricultural outputs such as oils and sauces.

Main markets
The primary market for Akata Farms is the local Grenadian market, where it contributes to improving access to fresh and affordable food. At the same time, the company is actively exploring opportunities within the tourism sector, including supplying hospitality businesses and developing farm-based experiences.

Main services
Beyond production, the company offers services related to sustainable farming setups, land management, training, digital products and agricultural innovation. It is also developing key digital agriculture solutions through its AkataGrow platform, which helps farmers track operations and improve efficiency.

INNOVATIONS: MILESTONES AND EXPANSION PLANS

Milestones
Since its establishment, Akata Farms has achieved several important milestones in finance, technology, and capacity building. The company has successfully accessed grant funding and investment opportunities, including COVID-19 relief funding and programs targeting women entrepreneurs. These resources have supported the installation of irrigation systems and the strengthening of farm operations.
A key innovation of the business is the development of AkataGrow, a digital platform designed to help farmers track their production, improve decision-making, and enhance their access to finance. This reflects the company’s broader approach of integrating technology into agriculture to increase efficiency and resilience.
Akata Farms has also invested significantly in skills development, participating in regional and international training programs focused on sustainability, business modeling, and climate resilience. These experiences have helped the company transition from a traditional farming model to a structured and data-driven agribusiness.

Needs for upscaling
The company has ambitious expansion plans, including scaling its operations to tackle regional imports. The company hopes to acquire 100 acres in Grenada to approximately 1,300 acres across the Caribbean. This expansion will include the development of large-scale poultry and livestock operations, as well as diversified crop production systems under protected environment, all aligned with its goal of achieving full self-sufficiency.
To support this growth, Akata Farms requires additional technical support, including advanced agricultural technologies and post-harvest systems, as well as patient and flexible financing that reflects the realities of agricultural production. Supportive policy frameworks and continued capacity building will also be critical to enabling its long-term success.

SUCCESS FACTORS AND LESSONS LEARNED

The success of Akata Farms can be attributed to strong leadership, a clear vision, and a commitment to innovation and sustainability. The company’s early focus on formalizing its operations through legal registration, record-keeping, and financial discipline has been essential in building credibility and accessing funding opportunities.
One of the key lessons learned is the importance of documentation and structured business practices. Maintaining accurate records has enabled the company to demonstrate its performance, understand its challenges, and position itself for investment. Another important lesson is that traditional financing models are often not well suited to agriculture, highlighting the need for more flexible and context-specific financial solutions.
The experience of Akata Farms also shows that aligning business activities with global priorities such as climate resilience, gender equality, and sustainable development can open doors to funding and partnerships. At the same time, the company has demonstrated that capacity building and knowledge are just as important as financial resources in achieving growth.
Overall, Akata Farms illustrates how combining agriculture, technology, and community engagement can create a resilient and scalable business model capable of contributing to food security and economic development in the Caribbean.

Additional Resources

• IICA-COLEAD - Business Profile - Akata Farms - EN
• IICA-COLEAD - Profil d'entreprise - Akata Farms - FR
• IICA-COLEAD - Perfil empresarial - Akata Farms - ES