The Caribbean Food System and Controls on Socioeconomic Development Authors Compton L Paul Donatus St Aimee Winston J Phillips Lynda Wickham Christine Bocage April 2002

Present situation with food and agriculture in the region n n The present situation with food and agriculture in the region is a continuation of the past plantation economies for export. Sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, rice, bananas. n n No change in policy after adult suffrage, self rule and independence. n n Food production divorced from agricultural production.

Present situation with food and agriculture in the region (Cont’d) n n Little importance attached to food for local consumption n n All resources allocated to export agriculture

Consequences n n Development of monocropping to compensate for limited land area n n Cultivation on substandard lands to maximize production at expense of productivity n n High input agriculture to compensate for reduced soil fertility.

Consequences (Cont’d) n n Damage to environment: soil erosion, water quality degradation, etc. n n Vicious cycle of more inputs, less returns, increased environmental damage, higher costs.

Effects on food crops production n n Micro-climatic change: changing soil ph, soil microbe interaction, etc n n Effect on quality: action of fertilizers and pesticides on texture of food crops.

Economic hardships n n Quality change affecting sales reduced returns; move to import use. n n Health concerns: cancer, diabetes, etc. n n Associated social problems. – – Poverty, crime, low worker productivity.

Changing global environment Global changes can be divided into two categories: n n climatic n n economic

Changing global environment (Cont’d) Climatic: n n Change in rainfall patters; increasing hurricanes; Ozone layer depletion n n Over fishing of migratory fisheries, outside of national boundaries. n n Increased non-point sources of pollution.

Changing global environment (Cont’d) Economic: n n Formation of trading blocs that may be exclusive n n Development of Standards and regulations that can serve as NTBs n n Change in world demands for goods and services, e,g, tourism replacing agriculture in the Caribbean.

Changing global environment (Cont’d) n n Change in world consumption patterns; eg. health food vs traditional foods. n n Increased competition from TNCs and MNCs.

Required policy changes. Policy changes in the region will be required at two levels: n n national n n regional

Required policy changes (Cont’d) National n n Need for clear agricultural policy: regionalization of exports n n Need for clear food and nutrition policy: Linkages with Health and Education policies. (Home economics, money management etc)

n n Need for progressive land and water use policy n n Priority setting for R&D to ensure maximum use of scant resources n n Institution strengthening, including extension, information dissemination n n Incentives: tax concessions for R&D. apprenticeships, etc. Required policy changes (Cont’d)

Regional: n n Capacity building to meet global standards n n Synchronization of national agenda to regional requirements

Research agenda (Cont’d) n n Impact of macro policies on food systems n n Development of food policies based on local crops n n Changing scenarios for demand for tropical products, including the market for health food products n n Alternative high local input agricultural systems

Research agenda (Cont’d) n n Factors affecting taste and how to reverse trends in the Caribbean n n Capacity of S&T institutions to bring about adaptive change and innovation n n Priority setting exercises with limited finance and other resources n n The marine resources of the region and how they can be harnessed

Research agenda (Cont’d) n n Caribbean biotechnology in the context of food, nutrition and health n n Island ecology, biodiversity and adaptation n n Island economies and capacity to respond to external pressures

Back to Eden n n The Caribbean islands before Columbus n n If we were the first inhabitants would we have done better n n Now that we know better can we undo anything