Christian Young Sing's journey as an entrepreneur is rooted in technical knowledge, innovation and a commitment to local food production.
Trained in Aquaculture at Vancouver Island University in Canada, Christian gained experience working on the Commercial Recirculating Aquaculture System at the Institute of Marine Affairs in Trinidad and Tobago.
In 2012, he founded EPILIMNION Aquaculture Ltd., which operates under the brand CRISP. The company produces baby greens, microgreens, culinary herbs and edible flowers for Trinidad and Tobago's retail and food service industries.
Over the past 13 years, CRISP has established itself as the first mover in microgreens in Trinidad and Tobago. Today, the company operates a 5,000-square-foot hybrid facility in Cascade, comprising an outdoor hydroponic Nutrient Film Technique greenhouse and an indoor climate-controlled production room. With a team of five employees, CRISP supplies major grocery chains and more than 60 HORECA accounts directly.
The company gained commercial traction during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it provided a local alternative to imported produce, supporting Trinidad and Tobago's food import substitution agenda.
As demand for its products grows, Christian is now focused on the next stage of the company's development. COLEAD through FFM + programme provided technical assistance to EPILIMNION to support the optimisation and expansion of its greenhouse operations under tropical conditions.
The mission assessed the company's existing infrastructure and production systems and developed recommendations for improving ventilation, shading, humidity management and environmental monitoring. It also included a preliminary expansion design for hydroponic lettuce production, as well as investment and operating cost estimates and a financial model. The support provides EPILIMNION with a roadmap for improving the efficiency of its production systems and preparing for future growth.
Christian's entrepreneurial journey demonstrates how technical training and practical experience can lead to new opportunities. From his background in aquaculture to founding one of Trinidad and Tobago's pioneering microgreens businesses, he has built CRISP over more than a decade through innovation and a commitment to developing local food production.
As EPILIMNION prepares for its next stage of development, Christian Young Sing is ready to lead the company into its next chapter, continuing the pioneering work that has helped shape Trinidad and Tobago's hydroponic agriculture sector.
This activity is supported by the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, implemented by COLEAD within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union. This publication receives financial support from the European Union and the OACPS. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of COLEAD and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the OACPS.