A vitalist approach to sugar-cane breeding in Barbados: In the context of the European Union Sugar Reform

The European Union (EU) recently terminated the Sugar Protocol, which had provided a guaranteed minimum price for sugar exports from countries in the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group. Caribbean sugar producers have responded in a variety of different ways. This paper engages with the adjustment of the Barbadian sugar sector; in particular, the agronomic cane breeding and selection program currently underway.This paper demonstrates the value that vitalist materialism, as a philosophical approach, has for understanding the situated practices and politics of cane variety selection in Barbados. Approaching agronomic practices from a more-than-human, vitalist perspective has political as well as practical significance, illuminating the lack of attention given to the specific material relations and temporalities of sugarcane in national 'adjustment' plans.

► Vitalist materialism is a useful approach for more-than-human geographers. ► Materialities of sugar-cane breeding have important consequences for policy. ► Disjunctural temporality of materialities shapes the outcome of policy. ► Economic policy must take into account vital materialisms if it is to be effective.