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CARICOM Chief Urges Boost in Regional Food Production

Secretary General Carla Barnett calls for diversifying the regional productive base to lower heavy import reliance.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Agriculture

Isometric editorial illustration showing structured rows of tropical crops like pineapple and sugarcane, representing regional agricultural expansion.
CARICOM Secretary General Carla Barnett urged regional investors to expand food production capacity to reduce the Caribbean's heavy reliance on costly imports. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should your region prioritize local food production to reduce reliance on imported goods?

CARICOM Secretary General Carla Barnett has challenged investors to ramp up regional food production to decrease reliance on imports. The initiative aims to broaden the productive base across the Caribbean to reduce the significant regional food import bill.

Why it matters

The region currently imports a large share of its food, capital equipment, and manufactured goods. Diversifying production is considered essential to strengthening economic self-sufficiency.

The International Trade and Investment Conference held in Georgetown, Guyana, spans a five-day schedule. Regional economic growth currently remains heavily dependent on exports of energy and commodities.

The players

Carla Barnett

She serves as the Secretary General of the Caribbean Community, a regional integration organization.

CARICOM

This is a regional integration grouping consisting of Caribbean nations working toward economic and political cooperation.

The details

Addressing the International Trade and Investment Conference, Secretary General Carla Barnett emphasized that the integration grouping must expand its productive capacity. This move is designed to address the persistent issue of CARICOM importing a vast majority of its essential supplies.

Timeline

  1. October 20, 2026: Secretary General Carla Barnett addressed the trade conference.

Market Landscape

This push for agricultural development follows the long-term integration goals set by the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. By shifting the productive base, the region seeks to reduce its historical reliance on global trade for essential consumer goods.

For residents across the Caribbean, increasing local food production could eventually lead to more stable prices and improved food security. The shift aims to lessen the regional vulnerability to fluctuating costs for imported essential goods.

The takeaway

The strategy highlights a broader necessity for small economic blocs to cultivate internal industries to mitigate external market volatility. Increasing local output remains the primary path for these nations to achieve long-term economic autonomy.

Further reading

For more on regional development, visit the Agriculture section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by CANANews.

Live Poll

Should your region prioritize local food production to reduce reliance on imported goods?