Joshua Forte is the founder and director of Red Diamond Compost Inc. in Barbados. The company transforms organic waste and invasive species into effective, environmentally friendly soil and crop inputs.

In Barbados and the wider Caribbean, agriculture faces increasing challenges: soil degradation, climate change, rising input costs, and food security concerns. Against this backdrop, entrepreneur Joshua Forte is building solutions that support farmers and gardeners in growing healthier food while protecting the environment.

As founder and director of Red Diamond Compost Inc., Joshua Forte leads a social enterprise dedicated to regenerative agriculture, turning organic waste and invasive species into effective, eco-friendly soil and crop inputs.

A vision rooted in soil and sustainability

Founded in 2014, Red Diamond Compost operates with a clear mission: to ensure everyone has access to healthy, nutrient-dense food through clean and green crop inputs. The company’s focus is on improving soil health, a critical foundation for resilient farming, using innovative bioconversion processes to create organic fertilizers, biostimulants, and soil amendments. To validate their effectiveness and safety, Red Diamond’s products have undergone independent field trials and lab analysis, including DNA sequencing, phytohormone profiling, and plant metabolite analysis. Two flagship products, Supreme Sea Biostimulant (made from sustainably sourced Sargassum seaweed) and Liquid Sunshine Organic Plant Food (produced using regeneratively cultivated Tithonia, a fast-growing plant known for its rich nutrient profile and biomass yield), are designed to enhance plant growth, soil structure, nutrient cycling, and water retention. Backed by microbial analysis and field trials, these formulations avoid synthetic residues that harm soil microbiota and pollinating insects, supporting healthier ecosystems.

Education and community building

Recognizing that knowledge is as important as inputs, Red Diamond Compost offers multiple online courses covering regenerative farming techniques, soil building, and crop management. These are part of the company’s broader Journey to 1000 Acres Initiative, aiming to empower farmers and gardeners to transition toward sustainable practices. The company also provides a digital crop guide, complete with detailed instructions and how-to videos, to help growers implement climate-smart gardening techniques. Complementing these resources is an active online community, via a Facebook group and YouTube channel, where growers exchange ideas, experiences, and practical advice.

Joshua also leads curriculum development for the Living Soils Mastery and Plant Power Essentials courses under the Journey to 1000 Acres Initiative, which combines scientific soil health training with practical regenerative methods. “We’re not just feeding plants, we’re restoring ecosystems from the soil up,” says Forte. “Our goal is to build resilience at every level: environmental, economic, and community.”

Inspiring leadership for sustainable futures

Joshua Forte’s innovative approach embraces a circular economy that supports regenerative agriculture while enhancing climate adaptation and the resilience of farming systems in Barbados and the wider Caribbean.

He is a truly inspiring entrepreneur who has motivated others to adopt circular, climate-smart agricultural solutions. For example, as an expert in solid waste management and regenerative practices, he shared his knowledge at One Young World Belfast 2023.

Through his leadership, scientific rigour, and community-driven ethos, Joshua is redefining sustainable agriculture in small island nations. By blending entrepreneurship with environmental stewardship, his work exemplifies how local innovation can solve global challenges, turning waste into opportunity and knowledge into resilience, driving positive change for people and the planet.

Joshua Forte has presented his company during the Caribbean Agrifood Business Session n°11, organised by IICA and COLEAD through the FFM+ programme, and aimed at showcasing the innovations and successes of Caribbean farmer-led businesses and small and medium enterprises. You can access the business profile of Red Diamond Compost.

This activity is supported by the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, implemented by COLEAD within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union. This publication receives financial support from the European Union and the OACPS. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of COLEAD and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the OACPS.