IICA’s Head endorses Pres Ali’s plan to revolutionise Caribbean agriculture

The Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Manuel Otero, has endorsed a bold initiative announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali, aimed at transforming agriculture in the Caribbean.
The plan, unveiled during the 48th Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), will focus on enhancing local food production and reducing the region’s reliance on costly imports.
Ali during his closing remarks announced a series of six collaborative projects with IICA designed to strengthen food resilience, sustainability, and competitiveness in a region that imports the bulk of its food.
One of the flagship initiatives includes the establishment of a Digital Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab)—a state-of-the-art technological hub modeled after IICA’s facility in San Jose, Costa Rica.
The FabLab will drive agricultural innovation, improve linkages between agriculture and tourism, and bridge the digital divide in the agri-marine value chain.
This cutting-edge laboratory will provide technology-driven solutions to modernize food production, promote public-private partnerships, and create opportunities for women and youth in the agricultural sector.
IICA’s Director General, Manuel Otero, reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to the initiative, emphasising its potential to drastically cut the Caribbean’s food import bill. “The primary objective of these initiatives, which the Institute wholeheartedly supports, is to make a decisive contribution to reducing the Caribbean region’s food import bill. They address the need to strengthen food and nutritional security, in an effort to increase local food production, improve intraregional trade and foster the creation of wealth and economic opportunities in the agriculture sector”, Otero explained.

The partnership between Caribbean nations and IICA builds on previous efforts, including the Hemispheric Fund for Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (FoHRSA), created in 2023 to strengthen the region’s adaptability to climate change. This fund focuses on promoting climate-resilient farming, integrating digital technologies, and advancing sustainable livestock production to reduce dependence on imported animal protein.
Meanwhile, the five additional projects announced by President Ali will further bolster the Caribbean’s agricultural framework. These initiatives include strengthening agricultural extension services to enhance training programs that improve productivity and expand rural employment opportunities, implementing measures to improve the adaptability and resilience of coastal communities to climate change, diversifying fruit production to increase food security, adding value through precision agriculture and the creation of high-quality market-ready agricultural products, and developing a bioeconomy model for inorganic waste treatment and increasing water availability for small-scale farmers. These efforts are designed to ensure long-term sustainability and economic growth in the sector.
Vision 25 by 2025
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Caribbean nations have intensified efforts to enhance food security through the Vision 25 by 2025 initiative, which seeks to reduce regional food imports by 25 percent.
President Ali highlighted the progress made, revealing that agricultural production has increased by 24 percent between 2022 and 2024, driven by substantial investments in storage, transportation, and private sector engagement in value chains.
The Head of State underscored the resilience of Caribbean farmers and policymakers, reaffirming that food security remains a top priority. “Our collaborative projects with IICA go beyond production—they foster sustainability, technological integration, and greater inclusion of women and youth in agriculture by 2030,” he stated.
As the Caribbean grapples with rising global food prices and supply chain disruptions, leaders are doubling down on efforts to build a self-sufficient agricultural sector. The strategic collaboration between IICA and regional governments marks a significant step toward achieving this goal.
With President Ali at the helm of this transformative vision and IICA’s backing, the Caribbean stands poised to revolutionise its agricultural landscape.