Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute alumnus Aaron John is helping turn an agricultural by-product into a potential environmental solution, as part of a student venture developing biodegradable packaging from coffee pulp.
John, who graduated from BAMSI in 2017, is currently pursuing a degree in Agricultural Engineering at EARTH University in Limón, Costa Rica. Alongside fellow Agricultural Engineering student Heran Mekonnen Gebrewahid of Ethiopia, he is developing Bereka BioPacks, a venture exploring ways to transform coffee-
processing residues into biodegradable packaging materials.
The project recently advanced from an initial field of 16 student businesses to become one of three semifinalists in The Sustainability Prize Program at EARTH University. “Being selected among the final three from an original group of 16 student businesses was a significant milestone for us and an encouraging indication that the idea has potential,” John said.
Turning waste into value
Established in 2009 by The Sustainability Laboratory, founded by Dr. Michael Ben-Eli, in collaboration with EARTH University, the Sustainability Prize Program brings together student entrepreneurs and sustainability-focused projects seeking practical solutions to environmental and social challenges.
For John, however, the work extends beyond the competition.
“The larger idea behind Bereka BioPacks is part of a circular economy approach: so instead of viewing agricultural by-products such as coffee pulp as simply waste, we want to explore how they can become valuable raw materials for new products,” he said.
Going forward, the team will assess factors including strength, durability, moisture resistance, biodegradability, manufacturability and cost before the team determines which applications offer the strongest potential.
Possible products include molded food containers and trays, seedling trays and other nursery products, protective packaging and inserts, biodegradable sheets or films, and other molded-fiber packaging products.
The venture is initially focused on Ethiopia, where Gebrewahid’s knowledge of the country and its coffee sector has helped the team consider the environmental, social and economic realities surrounding coffee production and processing. If the technology and business model is successfully validated, the pair believes the concept could eventually be adapted for other coffee-producing countries and
regions. Moving to the next stage The next stage will allow the Bereka BioPacks team to continue developing and testing its biodegradable packaging material, supported by a $1,000 allowance and
mentorship.
After a year of development, the project will undergo further assessment, with first- and second-place winners ultimately selected. John said the process has pushed the team to look beyond the scientific concept and consider whether Bereka BioPacks can become a practical, scalable and financially sustainable venture.
From BAMSI to EARTH
John said his journey from BAMSI to EARTH University has shaped the way he now approaches agriculture.
“BAMSI played an important role in helping shape the direction of my academic and professional journey,” he said. “It gave me practical exposure to agriculture and helped me see that agriculture is much broader than simply growing crops or raising animals. Agriculture can also involve technology, engineering, environmental sustainability, entrepreneurship, innovation, and value creation.”
John was a member of BAMSI’s second graduating class and completed his studies in Agriculture Science in 2017. His graduation project evaluated eight sweet potato varieties and examined their characteristics and potential benefits to Bahamian farmers and the local market. He enrolled at EARTH University in 2023 and is expected to graduate in December 2027. BAMSI President Dr. Raveenia Roberts-Hanna said Aaron’s continued development reflects the broader possibilities available to students who build on their agricultural education.
“We are extremely pleased to see Aaron taking the foundation he developed at BAMSI and using it to explore solutions that bring together agriculture, innovation, sustainability and entrepreneurship. His journey demonstrates that agricultural education can open doors far beyond traditional production and can position our young people to help solve real-world challenges.”
John said his time at BAMSI helped develop his interest in finding practical solutions to agricultural and environmental challenges and ultimately contributed to his decision to continue his studies in Agricultural Engineering.
Bringing the vision home
John also sees lessons from Bereka BioPacks that could eventually have relevance for his home country.
“I personally believe that these concepts of adding value to agricultural by-products can easily be applied to The Bahamas so that as Bahamians we can add value to our rapidly expanding agriculture sector while minimizing the waste produced,” John said.
His ultimate goal, he said, is to develop a system that works and apply it in The Bahamas.
“Aaron’s work is also an important reminder that the future of agriculture will require our students to think about what happens beyond the farm gate — how we reduce waste, create new products, build businesses and find greater value in the resources available to us,” Dr. Hanna said.
For John, Bereka BioPacks represents the intersection of the different stages of his agricultural education — from The Bahamas to Costa Rica and now a project connected to Ethiopia.
“I am very grateful for the journey that has brought me from BAMSI in The Bahamas to EARTH University in Costa Rica and now to working on a project connected to Ethiopia,” he said. “I believe it demonstrates how education, international collaboration, and agriculture can create unexpected opportunities to work on challenges that extend beyond our own communities and borders.”
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