Jamaica to Host Caribbean Week of Agriculture 2026 in Trelawny

Jamaica will host the 20th Caribbean Week of Agriculture from September 27 to October 2, 2026, at Ocean Coral Spring in Trelawny, bringing together more than 400 regional and international delegates to discuss the future of Caribbean food systems.

The staging was formally launched under the theme, “The New FACE of Caribbean Food Systems”, with the acronym pointing to four priorities: food security, agri-business, climate-smart technologies and export expansion. Organisers said the meeting is intended to move beyond discussion and support coordinated action across the region.

Agriculture Minister Floyd Green said the gathering comes after severe weather battered Jamaica’s farming sector, including Hurricane Melissa, which he described as the most damaging hurricane for agriculture in the country’s history. He said the event should help Caribbean states share practical responses to climate shocks, improve food production and build stronger links in regional trade.

CARICOM officials tied the 2026 conference to the 25 by 2025 plus five initiative, which seeks to reduce the region’s food import bill while expanding domestic production. The programme is expected to include ministerial meetings, a regional agricultural trade show and expo, farmer and youth farmer awards, technical workshops, funding discussions, farm visits and a youth-focused digital village.

Guyana’s Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, who chairs CARICOM’s ministerial task force on food security and food production, said member states are already investing in areas such as livestock, cereals, fruit and vegetables, dairy, honey and spices. He said the region must continue removing trade barriers, improving standards and certification systems, and expanding value-added opportunities for producers.

Representatives of IICA, the FAO and the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation also urged stronger investment, wider use of technology and closer public-private collaboration. They said the conference should support measurable outcomes, including increased regional coordination, broader adoption of modern farming methods and a stronger global position for Caribbean agriculture.

CARICOM Secretary General Dr. Carla Barnett said Jamaica’s hosting of the milestone event will highlight resilience, recovery and regional solidarity, while showcasing the role of farmers, fisherfolk, youth, women, entrepreneurs and development partners in shaping more sustainable food systems.