“Build resilience against global shocks by producing more of what we consume” – Pres Ali

…says Guyana being positioned to be leading meat producer in region

President Dr Irfaan Ali continues to stress the importance of building regional resilience, urging stakeholders in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to work together and produce more of what the region consumes in order to safeguard against global shocks.

The Guyanese leader made this call on Wednesday while delivering the feature address at the opening of the 52nd Ordinary Meeting of the South American Commission for Fight against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (COSALFA) in Georgetown, where he highlighted the impact of geopolitical events such as the Middle East war on food security within the LAC region.
“International shipping networks are facing disruption, fertiliser supplies are being constrained, grain shipments are delayed, and livestock trade logistics have become increasingly uncertain. For our region, we still import far too much of what we consume. This is not a distant crisis. It is a present reality – higher costs, delayed deliveries, and mounting food insecurity are our daily challenges,” the President noted.
It is for this reason the head of state argued that regional self-reliance, animal health security and production reliance are critical to both national and regional survival.
“We must build resilience against global shocks, including the Middle East supply chain disruptions, by producing more of what we consume within…this region. We must trade more among ourselves, and the only way we can do that is if we build trusted systems and trusted markets,” he posited.
The LAC region, which is currently designated a foot-and-mouth disease-free zone, is home to approximately 590 million susceptible animals, including 390 million cattle, 190 million sheep and goats, and 80 million pigs – all managed by nearly five million farmers, producing over 16.5 million metric tonnes of beef annually as of 2024.
According to President Ali, this livestock ecosystem in the region is at risk, with a single outbreak of the disease having the potential to devastate food security, rural livelihoods, and trade across Latin America and the Caribbean. To this end, he noted that being vigilant alone, though important, is insufficient.
“We must build systems that are proactive, interconnected, and resilient to shocks, both biological and geopolitical. The systems we build today must be innovative, creative, built on technologies that allow the optimal use of AI, digitisation, and integrated record-keeping so that we build a system in which we support each other, in which we allow each other to grow and expand with trust and confidence,” he stated.

Meat supplier
Citing Guyana’s leading role in food security within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Ali went on to note that as a foot-and-mouth disease-free country, Guyana is now opened up to valuable export opportunities and further positioned the country as a dependable supplier of meat and dairy products in the region.a
“At a time when the region is seeking to reduce its dependence on imported food, Guyana’s disease-free status enhances confidence in our agricultural systems, supports investments, and serves as an important line of biosecurity protection for neighbouring states. In this sense, it is a pillar of economic resilience and regional food security. That resilience has become even more vital in an era when external shocks can rapidly disrupt access to food, inputs, and markets beyond our shores,” he emphasised.
Guyana’s Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) is being transformed into a national and CARICOM livestock capital. Efforts are also ongoing to further solidify the country as a regional feed producer, with expected growth in corn and soybean production. Additionally, infrastructure and silo construction have also enhanced post-harvest handling. These will be bolstered with plans over the next five years to strengthen the national breeding programme, achieve self-sufficiency in hatching eggs, construct modular and mini-abattoirs, and promote precision livestock farming.
“Our financial commitment to expanding and financing the livestock sector has been steady and growing. And our traceability system, combined with advances in diagnostics, positions Guyana as a regional reference point for modern evidence-based animal health management,” the President posited.
Under the 25 by 2025 plus 5 initiatives, CARICOM is looking to reduce food imports by some 4.6 million tonnes by 2030, with meat and dairy products being a key priority.
At present, CARICOM imports approximately 66,308 metric tonnes of meat, valuing over US$312.3 million, and 204,000 metric tonnes of poultry and eggs, valuing close to US$4,000,000. The region is looking to slash these figures significantly with the production of 78,000 tonnes of meat, 261,000 tonnes of poultry and eggs, and 620 tonnes of dairy – something which President Ali, who is leading the CARICOM food security initiative, is confident can be achieved.
However, the Guyanese leader underscored the importance of a disease-free zone in order to get to this milestone, telling regional stakeholders who gathered in Georgetown to craft a new action plan for the coming years during the two-day COSALFA meeting that CARICOM has even made reforms to reduce barriers to inter-regional livestock trade and improve market access.
“As we scale up production of meat, poultry, dairy, and small ruminant sectors, with over US$650 million in investment opportunities, we rely on the assurance that our region remains protected from transboundary animal diseases. It is hoped that a 2026-2030 action plan to be implemented will give us that assurance.”
“Guyana stands ready to lead, ready to partner, and ready to advance a future where food production, animal health, and public trust go hand in hand,” President Ali declared.