Elevating youth & women as catalysts for regional transformation

The Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) 2025 represents a decisive moment in the ongoing evolution of the region’s agricultural sector. Set to run from September 29 to October 3 in St Kitts and Nevis, this year’s flagship event under the theme “Sowing Change, Harvesting Resilience: Transforming Our Caribbean Food Systems for 2025 and Beyond” underscores the critical roles of youth and women in driving innovation, sustainability, and resilience in Caribbean agriculture.
For decades, agriculture has been a cornerstone of economic development, food security, and climate adaptation across the Caribbean. Yet, despite its foundational importance, structural challenges, including climate vulnerability, limited access to financing, and gaps in technology adoption, have often constrained the sector’s potential. CWA 2025 seeks to address these persistent issues by positioning youth and women at the centre of regional policy, practice, and planning. By integrating the perspectives of these groups into discussions and decision-making processes, the event acknowledges that a sustainable and resilient agricultural future cannot be achieved without the full participation of all stakeholders.
The week-long programme promises a blend of high-level meetings, technical sessions, and interactive initiatives aimed at stimulating dialogue and practical solutions and are deliberately designed to provide platforms where young people and women can showcase innovation, exchange knowledge, and influence policy development. This approach reflects a growing recognition across the Caribbean that inclusive participation is central to addressing contemporary challenges, from ensuring food security to building climate-resilient systems.
Central to the discussions will be the 25×25+5 regional food security initiative, climate resilience strategies, and mechanisms to de-risk the regional food system. In addition, attention will focus on unlocking funding opportunities to boost agricultural innovation, improve production systems, and expand economic participation. By creating forums where stakeholders from public, private, and civil society sectors converge, CWA facilitates collaboration across disciplines and countries, fostering a unified regional vision. The Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on Agriculture, a customary feature of the event, will further cement policy-level engagement, aligning strategic priorities with on-the-ground realities.
The significance of CWA extends beyond the immediate outcomes of each annual gathering. Since its inception in 1998, the event has provided a consistent platform for regional dialogue, knowledge exchange, and strategic coordination. Hosted annually by CARICOM Member States and Associate Members, the CWA has continually emphasised the intersection of agriculture, rural development, and economic growth. The collaborative framework under the Alliance for Sustainable Development of Agriculture and the Rural Milieu, in conjunction with partners such as the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the CARICOM Secretariat, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), exemplifies the region’s commitment to structured, multi-sectoral cooperation. Past collaborations with institutions like the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) have further strengthened the capacity of stakeholders to implement sustainable agricultural strategies.
Each edition of the CWA reflects the evolving priorities of the region. From the inaugural meeting in Trinidad and Tobago in 1999 to CWA 2024 in St Vincent and the Grenadines, themes have progressed from foundational development to climate-smart agriculture, sustainability, and resilience. The trajectory underscores the Caribbean’s proactive engagement with emerging global and regional challenges, while highlighting the importance of continuity, coordination, and innovation.
CWA 2025, however, signals a notable shift in emphasis. By explicitly centring youth and women, the event acknowledges both the demographic and gender dimensions of agricultural development. Empowering these groups is not only a matter of equity; it is a strategic imperative for transforming Caribbean food systems. Young people bring fresh ideas, technological fluency, and entrepreneurial energy, while women contribute invaluable knowledge, leadership, and community engagement. Harnessing these strengths will be critical for achieving food security, economic diversification, and climate resilience across the region.
As Caribbean nations confront an increasingly complex agricultural landscape, the outcomes of CWA 2025 will carry implications far beyond the week’s scheduled activities. The integration of youth and women into planning, innovation, and decision-making is set to redefine the region’s agricultural trajectory, fostering systems that are more inclusive, resilient, and responsive to both local and global pressures. This strategic focus serves as a reminder that transformation in the agricultural sector is not a distant aspiration but a tangible imperative, one that requires leadership, collaboration, and the recognition that the future of Caribbean agriculture is inherently linked to the voices and talents of all its people.