About Red Diamond Compost

• Company status: Corporation.
• Year of registration: Founded in 2014, Incorporated in 2021.
• Number of employees: 3 employees including 1 woman.
• Business sector: Bio-tech.

Joshua Forte – Founder and Director

Joshua is an independent researcher, social entrepreneur, trainer, and consultant. With Red Diamond Compost, he is revolutionising sustainable agriculture with eco-friendly solutions from organic materials including Sargassum seaweed.

He has been honoured with multiple awards that underscore his commitment to sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship, such as the Commonwealth Innovation for Sustainable Development Award, the Barbados National Youth Awards, and several local sustainability awards have acknowledged his leadership and sustainable practices.

Joshua’s global impact is evident from speaking at One Young World Belfast 2023. As an expert in solid waste management and cleantech, he is transforming the agricultural industry into a circular economy promoting regenerative agriculture, environmental health and productivity.

Background

Red Diamond Compost was founded with a vision to revolutionise sustainable agriculture through innovative and eco-friendly solutions. Driven by a commitment to global food and nutrition security, the company focuses on enhancing soil health and promoting regenerative farming practices. Its origin lies in addressing the growing need for nutrient-dense foods and environmentally responsible agricultural inputs.

Business Model

Red Diamond Compost Inc. is a biotech social enterprise that has developed an innovative bioconversion process to convert organic materials and invasive species such as the Sargassum seaweed which has been plaguing the Caribbean region for the past several years into clean and green agrochemical solutions. They create organic fertilisers, biostimulants, soil amendments and other agrochemicals designed to support the fragile microbes responsible for building soil structure, increase nutrient cycling and water retention, storing organic soil carbon, and are safe for pollinating insects.

The company operates on a circular economy framework, and prioritises sustainability, adhering to principles of recycling and resource reuse to minimise environmental impact. It collaborates with farmers, researchers, and other stakeholders to ensure its products meet the needs of modern, climate-smart agriculture. In addition, the company also provides educational content on the best regenerative practices through, eBooks, and online courses.

Mission: To ensure every person has access to clean nutrient dense foods through clean & green sustainable crop inputs.

Relationships

When possible, Joshua Forte takes the opportunity to connect with farmers across the island to learn about their growing practices, understand the challenges they face in their unique environments, and explore how Red Diamond products can contribute to healthier, more sustainable cultivation. Indeed, the company’s goal is to help reduce losses and support more bountiful harvests.

By providing solutions that are both sustainable and cost-effective, the company helps growers improve crop yield and soil vitality. Additionally, it shares expertise through consultations and training programs, empowering agricultural communities to adopt environmentally friendly practices.

Products

The company’s product line includes innovative solutions like Supreme Sea Biostimulant, crafted from sustainably sourced Sargassum seaweed, and Liquid Sunshine Organic Plant Food, derived from regeneratively cultivated Tithonia. These products are designed to enhance plant health, productivity, and resilience. Red Diamond Compost serves a diverse market that includes home gardeners, commercial farmers, and the export-oriented tourism sector.

The company also commercialises a guide to climate-smart gardening, which provides tips and smart practices in to help gardening while combating climate changes.

Innovations: milestones and expansion plans

Red Diamond Compost is a pioneer in leveraging organic waste for agricultural use, the company is particularly noted for its use of seaweed and tithoina to produce sustainable biostimulants.

The company utilises innovative natural solutions to enhance soil health by supporting vital microorganisms that play a key role in soil structure, carbon storage, nutrient cycling, and pollinator protection. Through a detailed understanding of the Soil Food Web, the company identifies how these organisms work together to improve plant nutrient availability, protect plants, and enhance soil aeration. This insight leads to the development of solutions that rebuild soil structure, boost nutrient and water retention, and increase soil organic carbon. As a result, the company delivers more resilient soil, reducing the need for frequent soil maintenance while contributing to broader environmental health.

Red Diamond Compost incorporates regenerative agricultural practices and promotes knowledge-sharing through online resources, courses, and collaborations with international organisations.

In fact, the company created a crops guide, accessible on their website, with detailed guides & how-to videos. Moreover, they propose online courses, which are carefully curated as part of the Journey to 1000 Acres Initiative, and offer invaluable insights into regenerative practices, crop cultivation, and ecological coexistence. In addition, as Red Diamond Compost strives to create a community, they created a Facebook group which fosters conversations, knowledge exchange, and helps solutions emerge. Likewise, they have a YouTube channel, which proposes educational content, designed to enrich the understanding and love for sustainable farming.

Looking at the future, Red Diamond Compost wants to start exporting their products to other Caribbean countries, as well as export markets, including the USA and European Union.

Success factors and lessons learned

In just a few years, Red Diamond Compost has advanced in strides, advocating for ecosystem restoration and regenerative agriculture while working to increase the number of growers willing to adopt a new approach to working with nature. They also ensure that preventative measures are put in place to deal with the cause of diseases, pests, and poor soil fertility.

The company is also a member of associations like the Caribbean Climate Innovation Center, and partner of the Caribbean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Livelihoods further amplifying its influence in regional agricultural innovation. Its success in creating clean and green solutions has made it a leader in the sustainable farming movement across the Caribbean and beyond.

Red Diamond Compost has earned accolades for its contributions to sustainable agriculture, including recognition in international forums like One Young World and the Thought for Food Challenge. In 2021, at the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Innovation Award for Sustainable Development, Red Diamond Compost was “Awarded for their soil treatment solutions that improve organic solid waste management, food and nutrition security, and support climate adaptation and mitigation.”

Additional Resources

• Business Profile (English)
• Business Profile (French)
• Business Profile (Spanish)