By Matthew Johnson

Group Managing Director of Xtralarge Farms and Resorts, Dr Moji Davids, has called on governments, investors and stakeholders across the world to embrace agritourism as a pathway to food independence, wealth creation and sustainable economic development.

Davids made the call at the World Agritourism Festival 2026 themed, “Agritourism Without Borders: Connecting Food, Culture and Global Prosperity,” where experts highlighted how integrating agriculture with tourism is creating new economic opportunities and strengthening food systems across nations.

She said countries must begin to derive greater value from agriculture by deliberately linking it with tourism, culture, hospitality and wellness, stressing that the future belongs to nations capable of transforming agricultural resources into sustainable wealth.

According to her, “The time has come for us to create value from our agricultural resources. The time has come for us to build globally competitive agritourism enterprises. The time has come for us to own more of the global human value chain.

“The time has come for us to achieve food independence and economic emancipation. The time has come for us to showcase the extras of agriculture, the culture inside agriculture and the tourism part of agriculture, to make it more attractive and fun.”

She warned that no nation could genuinely claim sovereignty while remaining heavily dependent on other countries for food and essential supplies, citing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing global geopolitical tensions.

“As we can see what is happening presently on the Strait of Hormuz, every nation must understand what it means to be truly independent. You cannot claim to be a sovereign nation when you are dependent on others for food,” she said.

Davids noted that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerability of countries with weak food systems, urging nations to strengthen local agricultural production.

“Look at what happened during the era of COVID-19 and how many nations suffered when food shortages emerged. Let everybody take our destiny into our own hands,” she added.

Providing practical examples of agritourism’s impact, Dr Jason Sands shared the Bahamas experience, describing how the island nation is leveraging agritourism to strengthen food security, support local farmers and capitalize on record-breaking tourism demand.

According to Sands, unprecedented growth in tourist arrivals has significantly increased demand for locally sourced food, creating fresh opportunities for farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs.

“Agritourism is a form of commercial enterprise linking agricultural production with tourism,” he said.

He explained that growing visitor interest in authentic farm-to-table experiences has encouraged stronger collaboration between farmers, hospitality operators and tourism stakeholders.

“Record tourism numbers are driving higher demand for locally sourced food,” Sands said.

He highlighted successful initiatives including Chasing Butterflies on Andros, which offers farm-to-table dining experiences crafted from seasonal locally grown ingredients and personalized menus, as well as Down Too Earth Adventure Farm in Nassau, which combines indoor and outdoor dining with guided agricultural tours and a daily market.

Sands also pointed to the Gladstone Road Farmers Market, which operates year-round and connects visitors directly with local farmers selling fresh produce, honey, wines and artisan products.

He said farm-to-table dining remains one of the most attractive components of agritourism, allowing visitors to enjoy local gastronomy prepared from fresh, sustainable ingredients sourced directly from farms.

Beyond dining, he noted that tourists are increasingly participating in harvesting and production activities, including pick-your-own produce programmes involving coconuts, plums, mangoes and eggs.

Despite the opportunities, Sands identified several challenges facing agricultural development in The Bahamas, including heavy reliance on food imports, climate change and limited arable land.

“High reliance on food imports makes the sector vulnerable to global supply disruptions,” he said.

He added that hurricane exposure continues to threaten crop yields and farm infrastructure, while transportation between scattered islands increases production and distribution costs.

However, Sands expressed optimism about the future of the sector, citing innovations such as hydroponic and vertical farming, which enable year-round food production even in remote locations.

He also highlighted government and non-government initiatives supporting small-scale farmers, backyard farms and school gardens as critical interventions for boosting local food production.

“Record tourism demand creates a built-in market for authentic farm experiences,” he added.

Davids described agritourism as a powerful tool capable of connecting multiple sectors of the economy and creating sustainable prosperity for communities.

“This summit is more than a gathering of experts. It is a platform for collaboration, innovation and action. It is a recognition that the future of agriculture, tourism, culture, wellness, food production and economic development is interconnected,” she said.

According to her, combining tourism with agriculture unlocks opportunities across more than 90 sectors of the economy.

“With the addition of tourism to agriculture, we now have over 90 different sectors coming into play, making agriculture more sustainable and prosperous,” she said.

Davids explained that Xtralarge Farms and Resorts was established to make agriculture attractive, profitable and sustainable through tourism-driven experiences.

“What started as an agricultural enterprise has now evolved into an ecosystem that integrates agriculture, agritourism, hospitality, wellness, education, food production, investment and community development,” she said.

She noted that visitors to the farm are exposed not only to crops and livestock but also to local culture, food systems and rural lifestyles.

“When people visit our farms, they do not merely see crops and livestock. They experience our history. They encounter our culture. They understand our food system and they support rural economies,” she said.

Davids said every visitor spending money within agritourism destinations contributes directly to job creation, investment and community development.

“It helps us create more jobs, stimulates investment and turns people into ambassadors of their communities,” she added.

She disclosed that the organisation has expanded agritourism beyond Nigeria through strategic collaborations involving the Presidency, Lagos State Government, the Ministries of Culture and Tourism and Agriculture, as well as members of the Nigerian diaspora community.

According to her, agritourism has gained significant recognition despite initial scepticism when the concept was first introduced in Nigeria.

“Many years ago, when Xtralarge became a champion of agritourism in Nigeria, few people understood what we were trying to do.

“Many saw agriculture and tourism as separate industries. Many questioned whether farms could become destinations. But we saw a future where agriculture would not merely feed people but inspire people,” she said.

Davids said that vision has now become reality, attracting both local and international interest and fostering partnerships involving stakeholders from The Bahamas, the United Kingdom, Ghana, Canada and the United States.

“Today, that vision has become real and the movement is not stopping. We are proud to have pioneered agritourism in Nigeria, but our ambition was never to stop at Nigeria. Our vision has always been global,” she said.

She also highlighted investment opportunities available through the organisation, including ownership of palm plantations designed to create long-term wealth for families and future generations.

“One of the offers we have presently at Xtralarge Farms is the ownership of a palm plantation. That is prosperity. That is wealth creation. That is transgenerational inclusion,” she said.

Davids further announced that the physical edition of the World Agritourism Festival will hold in Nigeria on June 12, 2026.

She urged stakeholders across the world to unite through agritourism to preserve cultures, strengthen food systems and build sustainable prosperity.

“Together, we can build a future where agriculture becomes one of the core components of sustainable development. Let this summit be remembered as a call to nations, a call to preserve cultures, a call to create prosperity and a call to unite the world through agritourism,” she said.