How an Oil Spill in Mauritius Led to a Farming Revolution

When a devastating oil spill spewed into the ocean off the coast of Mauritius in July 2020, it wiped out not only sea life but also entire lines of work dependant on the sea. But Sandy Monrose and a team of fishing families alchemized the devastation into a new possibility. After months of ocean clean-up, Monrose met with a multinational company that runs an “agri-hub” for farming entrepreneurs. She recalled the surreal feeling when “we asked for land and we got it on the same day." By 2021, Monrose and her team were working the land. Although descendants of fishers, they crafted a new, terrestrial, livelihood on a lush, thriving farm, where papayas and potatoes replace lost seas. Moreover, these resilient women found solace in camaraderie. "What’s said on the farm stays on the farm," says Monrose, a testament to the sisterhood they’ve nurtured alongside their greens. Their collective journey from despair to self-sufficiency showcases the power of community against adversity. Monrose and her team are not just farming; they're cultivating hope and resilience, proving that, with collective action, a sudden disaster can lead to a remarkable revival.