Int. J. Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, Vol. X, No. Y, XXXX 1 Copyright © XXXX Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. Technology transfer for agro-industries in developing nations: a Caribbean perspective C.K. Sankat, K.F. Pun* and C.B. Motilal Faculty of Engineering, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies Fax: +868-662-4414 E-mail: clem@uwi.tt E-mail: kfpun@eng.uwi.tt E-mail: cmotilal@hotmail.com *Corresponding author Abstract: Agriculture has long served as the ‘handmaiden’ to the industrial sector in many developing countries including those in the Caribbean region. Technological change, competition and globalisation are driving a restructuring of agro-business Research and Development (R&D) processes and strategies. This paper discusses the potential benefits of technology transfer to agriculture and the infrastructural requirements for the support of innovation in developing countries with particular reference to Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. A collaborative framework for innovation and technology transfer is explained. It stresses the need to build partnerships among stakeholders (i.e. agro-firms, government, knowledge institutions, etc.) and identifies main processes involved to assure the sustainability of the agricultural environment. Technology transfer is not simply copying the technologies passively from the advanced nations, but is an active and creative process of adaptation rather than of adoption that recognises the indigenous capabilities needed to suit local conditions. Keywords: technology transfer; agriculture; the Caribbean. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Sankat, C.K., Pun, K.F. and Motilal, C.B. (XXXX) ‘Technology transfer for agro-industries in developing nations: a Caribbean perspective’, Int. J. Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, Vol. X, No. Y, pp.XXX–XXX. Biographical notes: C.K. Sankat is a Professor and the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of West Indies. He is a Chartered Engineer in the UK. His research interests are in the areas of post-harvest and food process engineering, engineering design and science, technology and innovation management and policy. K.F. Pun is a Professor of Industrial Engineering in the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of West Indies. He is a Chartered Engineer in the UK and a Registered Professional Engineer. His research interests are in the areas of industrial engineering, engineering management and innovation. C.B. Motilal is a PhD student at the University of the West Indies where she received a BSc (Hons) and an MPhil in Agricultural Engineering in 1997 and 2000, respectively. Currently, she is working as an Agricultural Engineer at the Ministry of Agriculture Land and Marine Resources in Trinidad and Tobago.