Caribbean Week of Agriculture 2025 to Focus on Building Resilient Food Systems
The Caribbean is set to highlight its agricultural sector at the 19th staging of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA), scheduled to take place from September 29 to October 3, 2025, in St. Kitts and Nevis. Organised under the theme “Sowing Change, Harvesting Resilience: Transforming Our Caribbean Food Systems for 2025 and Beyond,” this year’s event is set to be a key moment for regional leaders, farmers, and innovators to collectively reimagine how food is produced, secured, and sustained across the Caribbean.
Dr Wendell Samuel, Senior Economic Adviser and Acting Assistant Secretary-General at the CARICOM Secretariat, emphasised the importance of the gathering, noting that CWA continues to serve as “the premier regional platform for raising awareness and promoting investments in agriculture and food and nutrition security.” He added that the event has become instrumental in reshaping public perceptions of agriculture, sparking meaningful engagement, and strengthening the growth of the region’s food systems.
Since its inception in 1999, the Caribbean Week of Agriculture has evolved beyond a meeting of experts into a catalyst for policy shifts and practical change. Past editions have played a crucial role in advancing discussions on climate-smart agriculture, pushing innovation in agro-processing, and expanding investment in regional food security. Initiatives highlighted in earlier CWAs—such as the push to cut the region’s massive food import bill and the drive for youth involvement in agri-tech—have laid the groundwork for more sustainable practices and a renewed interest in farming as a viable business.
This year’s staging is particularly significant against the backdrop of ongoing climate threats, global supply chain disruptions, and rising food prices. Caribbean countries are expected to gain from cross-learning opportunities in climate-resilient farming, access to new technologies, and the chance to forge partnerships aimed at reducing the region’s reliance on imported foods. With the “25 by 2025” initiative—a regional goal to reduce food imports by 25 per cent by 2025—still fresh in policymakers’ minds, the timing of CWA 2025 is critical for aligning strategies and assessing progress.
Guyana, with its vast agricultural potential, is expected to play a leading role in regional food security efforts. President Dr Irfaan Ali has repeatedly underscored the need for greater collaboration, most recently highlighting the importance of rice stockpiling across CARICOM to buffer against food supply shocks and market disruptions. His comments position Guyana not only as a supplier of rice, one of the region’s most essential staples, but also as a key partner in shaping practical frameworks for regional food reserves. With Guyana’s rice industry already producing surpluses, the country could become a cornerstone of the Caribbean’s plan to build resilience against global volatility.
