Regional officials discuss joint action on food, economic impacts of global conflicts

-as CARICOM MTF outlines immediate coping mechanisms, medium- to long-term strategies

Agriculture Minister and Chairman of the CARICOM Ministerial Taskforce (MTF) on Food Security, Zulfikar Mustapha, has underscored the urgent need for coordinated regional action to address the impact of ongoing global conflicts on food and economic stability across the Caribbean. The call was made during the first CARICOM MTF on Food Security meeting for the second quarter of 2026, where representatives from across the region examined measures to mitigate the effects of global shocks arising from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Discussions highlighted that, although the Caribbean is geographically distant from the conflict, the region remains highly vulnerable to its ripple effects through rising energy prices, disruptions in fertiliser supply, increased shipping and logistics costs, escalating food prices, inflationary pressures and exchange rate volatility.
Central to the discussions was the draft Regional Food Security Response Matrix, which provides a structured policy framework outlining both immediate coping mechanisms and medium- to long-term strategies. The framework emphasises the importance of a coordinated regional response to safeguard food systems and economic stability. The framework highlighted that disruptions in fertiliser supply continue to increase production costs and reduce yields across the region. In the short term, countries are being encouraged to promote alternative inputs, while long-term solutions include diversifying supply sources and investing in local production. Similarly, shipping disruptions have led to delays in imports and rising food prices, with immediate responses focused on prioritising essential imports and longer-term strategies centred on developing regional shipping systems and establishing food reserves. Minister Mustapha said the report highlighted several critical vulnerabilities affecting the region, particularly in relation to fertiliser availability and shipping and logistics. “In Guyana, we are currently advancing plans to establish a fertiliser plant. This initiative will not only benefit Guyana but also the wider region. We are working to have the facility operational by the end of the year and are currently engaging stakeholders through expressions of interest for its construction,” Mustapha explained. He added that Governments across the region have been taking proactive steps to support farmers and maintain production levels. “Over the last two years, we have been working closely with farmers by providing fertiliser and other agricultural inputs to reduce production costs and boost output. Other countries in the region have also implemented similar measures to cushion the effects of these global disruptions,” he added.
Furthermore, he emphasised that the ongoing conflict poses systemic risks to both food and economic security, making it imperative for CARICOM member states to pursue immediate interventions alongside sustained investments in resilience and self-sufficiency. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Regional Food Security Response Matrix was formally adopted and will be presented at the upcoming CARICOM Heads of Government meeting for further consideration.