CB Group (CBG), a regional leader in sustainable food and agriculture, has inaugurated the Caribbean's largest poultry air-chill processing plant at "The Nest," its 1,000-acre eco-industrial park in St. Catherine. Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining Floyd Green joined CBG in celebrating the opening of this transformative facility.

The Nest is the first of its kind in the Caribbean, symbolizing a bold step toward Jamaica’s self-sufficiency in food production and aligning with CARICOM’s ambitious goal of reducing extra-regional food imports by 25% by 2025.

“Jamaica is on track to become a net exporter of chicken within the next 5 – 10 years.” said Lyn of the billion-dollar investment.

“Based on the historical and forward projections of the industry and the new capacity of the plant, our country has the opportunity to accomplish something only a handful of countries around the world have achieved.”

Revolutionary Air-Chill Technology

The new facility replaces CB Chicken’s processing operations in Kingston with state-of-the-art air-chill technology, marking a significant departure from water-based processing. The air-chill process, widely adopted in Europe, uses purified, cold air to lower the temperature of poultry post-slaughter, enhancing taste, reducing cross-contamination risks, and drastically lowering water usage.

CBG anticipates saving 250 million liters of water annually. In line with its circular economy model, the plant will repurpose 100% of its water through an onsite treatment facility, using it for crop irrigation.

Environmental and Economic Benefits

Beyond water conservation, the plant leverages partnerships for energy efficiency. Through collaboration with JPS Co, a 10MW LNG Combined Heat & Power Plant provides cleaner energy while improving electricity reliability in surrounding areas. Additionally, CBG’s Protein Plant eliminates 20 million pounds of biological waste annually, preventing landfill overflow.

Economically, the JMD$15 billion investment triples CBG’s processing capacity, setting Jamaica on course to achieve full self-sufficiency in poultry meat and positioning the country as a potential net exporter within 5 to 10 years.

“Jamaica is on track to become a net exporter of chicken within the next 5 – 10 years.” Lyn added. “Based on the historical and forward projections of the industry and the new capacity of the plant, our country has the opportunity to accomplish something only a handful of countries around the world have achieved.”

Expanding Opportunities for Farmers

CB Group’s expansion is already delivering results, with a 15% increase in production over the last six months. Over the next two years, the company plans to significantly grow its network of contract farmers, enabling more small business opportunities.

Tony Blair, CB Group’s divisional manager with responsibility for the Air Chill Plant shared: “This facility lays the foundation for more than JMD$2.5 billion of investments by independent poultry growers over the next two years. Each farmer typically invests north of $250 million to erect the climate controlled, modern, sustainable housing we have as the CB standard.”

The ripple effect extends beyond poultry to other agricultural sectors. The increased demand for feed and hatcheries is expected to bolster the livestock industry, positively affecting producers of table eggs, pork, dairy, beef, goats, and sheep.

A Bold Vision for Regional Agriculture
Blair concluded: “We strongly believe in agriculture. We know the value it brings to our society and, here at CBG, we’re proud to play a leading role in its development for our Jamaican people and the Caribbean.”

This cutting-edge facility at The Nest signifies a new era of innovation and collaboration in Caribbean agriculture, furthering Jamaica’s role as a leader in sustainable food production.

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Source: Jamaica achieves significant milestone in agriculture with CB Group’s new facility | Old Harbour News