Joshua Forte: Transforming Caribbean Agriculture Through Biotech Innovation
Joshua Forte is the founder of Red Diamond Compost Inc, a pioneering biotech social enterprise based in Barbados focused on producing nutrient-rich, environmentally sustainable agrochemical solutions. Growing up in Barbados, Joshua developed a profound connection to nature through his grandmother, who instilled in him an appreciation for plants, gardening, and the ecosystems around them. Early exposure to encyclopedias, National Geographic, and scientific curiosity fostered a lifelong passion for understanding natural systems. This interest, however, intersected with personal health challenges: during university, Joshua contracted a severe case of mononucleosis that left him bedridden for months, experiencing chronic fatigue and nausea. This experience prompted him to explore nutrition deeply, focusing on nutrient-dense foods and soil health as foundational elements for human and environmental wellness.
Red Diamond Compost addresses a critical gap in the Caribbean agricultural sector: the widespread use of synthetic chemical inputs that degrade soil microbiomes, reduce crop nutrient density, and harm ecosystems. Joshua’s enterprise develops biostimulants from locally abundant organic materials, including Sargassum seaweed, which has inundated Caribbean coastlines from Barbados to Mexico, and Tithonia, a highly invasive land plant. By converting these materials into commercially viable products, Red Diamond simultaneously tackles environmental waste, restores soil fertility, and empowers farmers with effective, natural alternatives to chemical fertilizers.
Joshua began his entrepreneurial journey in 2014, experimenting with organic composting to improve the quality of leafy greens for his pet iguana. What started as a personal solution quickly evolved into a scientific exploration of nutrient-dense agriculture. Collaborating remotely with a composting expert from Texas, Joshua built a deep understanding of soil microbiology and long-term composting processes. This foundation allowed him to develop his first products and test biostimulants for local crops, blending traditional composting wisdom with modern biotech approaches.
Incorporated in 2021, Red Diamond Compost has since processed over 20 tons of raw organic materials and produced thousands of liters of biostimulants, though the company remains in the early stages of transitioning from R&D to full-scale commercial production. The enterprise operates with a lean core team of four, supported by additional labor for harvesting Sargassum and other raw materials. Despite its small size, the company maintains rigorous scientific testing, quality control, and iterative product development, ensuring that each batch of biostimulant delivers measurable improvements in soil fertility and crop nutrition.
Joshua’s leadership emphasizes curiosity-driven problem solving, technical rigor, and environmental stewardship. He balances scientific experimentation with strategic operations, maintaining meticulous records and leveraging global collaborations to refine processes. His vision is to build a micro-industrial facility that increases production efficiency, optimizes margins, and enables scaling to an industrial level. By doing so, Red Diamond aims to provide Caribbean farmers with consistent access to high-quality, nutrient-dense agricultural inputs while simultaneously mitigating environmental harm.
Joshua joined the YECO Programme to accelerate growth, access targeted mentorship, and connect with strategic partners. His key objectives include intellectual property protection, facilitated by Sidley and the World Intellectual Property Office, to secure trade secrets and patents for proprietary biostimulant formulations. Additionally, Joshua is exploring the integration of AI solutions, in collaboration with Google, to optimize production, monitor product efficacy, and analyze environmental impact data. YECO also provides Joshua with the opportunity to engage with past program participants, tap into investor networks, and refine operational strategies for regional expansion.
Joshua’s journey exemplifies the intersection of personal resilience, scientific curiosity, and entrepreneurial vision. From transforming a personal dietary challenge into a research-driven enterprise to building a biotech company in a nascent Caribbean industry, he demonstrates how curiosity and perseverance can translate into tangible social, environmental, and economic impact. Red Diamond Compost Inc. serves as a model for climate-positive agro-industrial innovation, restoring soil health, supporting sustainable agriculture, and empowering local communities. Through YAGO, Joshua aims to scale these impacts, broaden regional influence, and ensure that Caribbean agriculture becomes both environmentally sustainable and nutritionally enriching.
Interview conducted and written by Hassan Alam (UN Volunteer, 2025)