Food security in SIDS has been brought to the forefront recently due to challenges in the global food supply chain, which highlighted the urgency of SIDS developed self-reliance to external shocks. Saint Lucia has been building resilience by increasing agricultural production to minimize import reliance. By improving supply chain through digital technologies, increasing subsidies for targeted crops, and developing stable markets through agriculture intelligence information systems, Saint Lucia has made great progress towards insulating themselves from global supply chain disruption.
Saint Lucia has outlined ambitious plans for improving the adoption of technology within agriculture in their Agriculture Adaptation Strategy (2018-2028). However, one barrier to new agriculture technology is the high average age of farmers of 60 years. Saint Lucia is working to support youth entrepreneurs in agriculture to bring innovation into agriculture. Through targeted grants and opportunities such as the Youth Agri-Enterprise Program, youth are becoming more central to innovation and entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector through access to land and financing, including through tax reliefs and exceptions for youth economy projects.
Regional logistic hubs like those being built in Barbados will support the Caribbean Community (Caricom) by strengthening regional supply chains and logistics capacities, and heightening intra-regional trade and South-South and Triangular Cooperation. Currently about 80% of food in the Caribbean is imported, but with new technology, policies, and finance to assist local farmers, this effort is working towards the regional import substitution program, “25 by 2025” which aims to cut food imports by 25% by 2025.
Read more in SIDS Bulletin 67.
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