Jamaica underscored its regional leadership at the 19th Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA), where Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, led a round of high-level bilateral meetings that unlocked new investments, advanced trade opportunities and deepened cooperation across the Caribbean. The bilateral meetings, held at CWA from September 29 to October 4, 2025 in St. Kitts and Nevis, spanned key pillars of regional development including financing, livestock, youth engagement and fisheries, anchored by Jamaica’s call for collective action on food security. Green stated that, “Our focus at CWA was clear: to move beyond talk and strengthen real partnerships that deliver results. Whether it’s new investment, youth opportunities or livestock development, Jamaica is leading from the front and showing that regional cooperation can drive real change for our farmers and our economy. We’ve made real progress, but there’s still more to do. What’s important is that we keep the momentum going; turning commitments into action and ensuring that every agreement we make translates into growth and opportunity for our people.” Major Partnerships and Commitments The European Union pledged new support through investment, financing and training partnerships to accelerate Jamaica’s modernization agenda. Meanwhile, Barbados and Jamaica charted plans to scale regional livestock production, with a focus on small ruminants and the Black Belly Sheep. Building on the progress of CWA 2023, Jamaica and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) reaffirmed commitments to innovation, including the establishment of an IICA Fab Lab in Jamaica to serve the wider region. The Fab Lab will act as a digital fabrication hub for agricultural technology and skills development, helping farmers embrace cutting-edge tools for productivity and sustainability. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) also placed youth and technology front and centre, advancing plans for a Centre of Excellence for Fisheries and the rollout of Jamaica’s National Youth in Agriculture Strategy, designed to empower young innovators and agri-preneurs. Expanding Regional and Global Reach Jamaica’s influence extended beyond the Caribbean. The country strengthened South-South cooperation with Nigeria to deepen collaboration in agriculture and committed technical expertise to the Turks and Caicos Islands to support the development of its conch industry. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) also engaged Jamaica in discussions to increase the Caribbean’s voice in shaping global trade policies around sanitary and phytosanitary measures; vital issues for small island states whose economies depend heavily on agriculture and livestock. Driving Investment and Trade Investment opportunities were another key feature. In its meeting with International Asset Management (IAM), Jamaica presented the newly launched Deal Book from the inaugural Jamaica Agri-Investment Forum; a portfolio designed to channel large-scale private capital into food security and trade. IAM expressed interest in exploring potential collaborations, signaling continued dialogue and reinforcing Jamaica’s positioning as a regional hub for bankable, government-led projects. CWA 2025 brought together governments, international agencies, private sector leaders and development partners in St. Kitts and Nevis. Jamaica’s engagement at CWA 2025 reflected its ongoing commitment to regional collaboration and the shared goal of building a more resilient and self-sufficient Caribbean agriculture sector. ` =30=

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