Breadfruit Research in the Caribbean: Pre-Introduction to 1979

Abstract

The introduction of breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg) from the South Pacific to the British West Indies more than 200 years ago, was a well-documented enterprise. The successful introduction and the subsequent plant distribution within the region received considerable support and guidance from the Royal Society of Arts and the from the West India Committee. The former institution has played a leading role in the advancement of science since the mid-18th century when the primary interest of both institutions was in trade for the economic advancement of the British empire. Through their involvement in the introduction, the venture benefitted from research, especially in botany and horticulture, which was remarkable because breadfruit was intended to serve as a food crop primarily for the enslaved African labour on the sugarcane plantations instead of as an economic crop for trade. Since its introduction, breadfruit has been grown and consumed throughout former and existing European colonies and research activities have been conducted in the English, Spanish and French-speaking Caribbean. This paper describes research investigations on breadfruit from 1768, towards its introduction and during its eventual development as a food crop in the region; across language groups, from 1768 up to 1979. The research conducted from 1980 onwards will be presented in a subsequent paper.