ORANJESTAD, Aruba (AAN) — Concerns are being raised over the Agri-Innovation Park environmental impact Aruba, as local farmer Kinsasha Thielman-van der Bliek warns of potential negative consequences for the island’s environment.
In an interview with DIARIO, Thielman-van der Bliek explained that she recently met with Minister Geoffrey Wever to express her concerns about the project. According to her, the current investment focus prioritizes innovation while failing to first strengthen the basic foundation of Aruba’s agricultural sector.
She pointed out that Aruba currently lacks clear laws and regulations governing the management of wastewater from hydroponic systems, as well as the responsible use of pesticides and fertilizers in large-scale greenhouses.
Thielman-van der Bliek emphasized that without proper regulation, there is a significant risk of soil contamination, as well as pollution of groundwater, which can eventually reach coastal waters through rainfall and underground water flows, negatively affecting marine ecosystems.
“These impacts are so serious that they cannot be ignored or denied,” she stated. “In the Netherlands, where Aruba is modeling these systems from, large greenhouse areas are already facing major challenges related to soil and water contamination.”
She further noted that studies show only a quarter of greenhouse farmers consistently comply with existing regulations, even in countries like the Netherlands where controls and sanctions are already in place. Despite enforcement measures, improper use of fertilizers and pesticides remains a persistent issue.
According to Thielman-van der Bliek, she raised these concerns with Minister Wever as early as last year in her role as a former board member of United Farmers Aruba (UFA). She stressed that a comprehensive environmental impact report should be mandatory before any development of the Agri-Innovation Park proceeds. To date, she says, the concerns have not been adequately addressed.
“We are a small island with fragile ecosystems already under heavy pressure,” she concluded. “It is impossible to ignore the environmental impact that projects like the Agri-Innovation Park can have on Aruba.”
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