BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Barbados and St. Lucia moved towards further strengthening cooperation within the agricultural sector with Bridgetown underscoring the need for the Caribbean region to move beyond discussion towards more practical regional solutions that have the potential to strengthen food security and expand value-added production.
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Security, Dr. Shantal Munro-Knight (left), in discussion with St.. Lucia’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Sustainable Development, Senator Lisa Jawahir (right) during a courtesy call at the National Agricultural Exhibition.“This is not the time for long talk. Global instability has shown us how vulnerable small states can be. Barbados is committed to strengthening agro-processing, modernising our systems, and working closely with our regional partners so that we build resilient supply chains and competitive value-added industries together,” said Minister of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Security, Dr. Shantal Munro-Knight.
She met with St. Lucia’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Sustainable Development, Lisa Jawahir, highlighting the importance of balancing innovation with inclusion, noting that while digital platforms, AI-supported extension services, and data-driven decision-making are critical to modernising agriculture, traditional farmers must remain central to the sector’s transformation.
“Technology must enhance what we already do well. We cannot modernise agriculture in a way that leaves our experienced farmers behind. The strength of this region lies in combining traditional knowledge with innovation,” Dr. Munro-Knight added.
Jawahir welcomed the opportunity for collaboration and praised Barbados’ advancements in agro-processing, livestock genetics, and agricultural data systems.
The delegation expressed particular interest in Barbados’ artificial insemination programme and its new livestock genetics laboratory, which will allow for the export of preserved semen rather than live animals, a move aimed at protecting regional genetics and reducing transport costs.
The need to strengthen intra-regional trade through the improvement of agricultural logistics, and exploration of joint export strategies, particularly in light of recent shipping disruptions that affected feed supplies across parts of the Caribbean, was also discussed.
Both Ministers agreed that regional cooperation must be accelerated, with structured collaboration in training, agro-processing and market intelligence, with livestock development forming part of the next phase of engagement, according to a statement issued following their discussions.
