Regional Agricultural Stakeholders call for more collaboration to advance agricultural innovation, resilience, and inclusive development across the region

L –R:Conference Chair and Coordinator of the MSc Agro-Technology and Business programme at the University of Guyana, Dr Donna Morrison; Member of the University of Guyana Council, Dr Ivor B. English; Ms Johan David, Agri-business and Value Chain Specialist at the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture; Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin; President of the Caribbean Agro-Economic Society, Dr Govind Seepersad; Senior Project Officer for Agricultural Development, CARICOM, Ms Denise Murillo; Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture on CARICOM Agri-Food Systems, Dr Richard Blair; Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Lambert Chester; CEO of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), Mr Jagnarine Singh; and Director of the University of Guyana Berbice Campus, Professor Gomathinayagam Subramanian.

The 35th West Indies Agricultural Economics Conference officially opened at the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus on Monday, July 21, 2025, under the theme  “Drivers for Agricultural and Economic Development.” The prestigious regional event is being hosted by the University of Guyana’s Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry in collaboration with the Caribbean Agro-Economic Society (CAAES) and the Ministry of Agriculture, and has brought together local, regional, and international stakeholders to address some of the most pressing issues confronting the Caribbean’s agri-food sector.

At the Opening Ceremony on Monday, Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin, welcomed participants and expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Agriculture and other agencies for the support given towards the hosting of the conference. She noted that the conference  “aligns well with the University’s vision to be a centre of excellence in solving national and regional challenges.”

Professor Mohamed Martin highlighted the ground-breaking research being done by UG’s Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry in hydroponics, food innovation, and climate-smart agriculture, and noted that the conference provides an opportunity for the Faculty to foreground its work in these key areas.

The VC also pointed to the work of UG’s Institute of Food and Nutrition Security (IFANS), which she noted is working on “some fairly significant projects”, among these being experimenting with new crops on different soils in Guyana and looking at creating warehousing for foods and food supplies that are surplus from across the region, especially for those countries that are hit by hurricanes and natural disasters.

Prof Mohamed Martin further highlighted the work of the University of Guyana Institute of Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (UGIRIE).  “UGIRIE takes the research work of staff and students, and persons outside of UG, and works with them to scale up science and research that they do to patent their work and also to project outward into the community, so that the work that we do as scientists is known and has practical applications.”

Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture on CARICOM, Agri-Food Systems, Dr Richard Blair delivered the keynote address on behalf of the Honourable Minister, Mr Zulfikar Mustapha. He urged attendees to reimagine agriculture as a central pillar of economic development, rather than just a support sector.  “Agriculture contributes about 24 percent to Guyana’s GDP; when Oil and Gas is factored in, it is about 14 percent…It comes on the back of hard work, commitment, and investment. Agriculture serves a very important role in employment, and food security nutrition,” he stated.

Dr Blair called for strategic transformation anchored on three key drivers: investment, innovation, and integration. He also spoke to the rise of agro-processing facilities across Guyana, the use of drones and greenhouse technology, and investments in new crop varieties, all of which are transforming the agri-food landscape.

Dr Blair called on universities to  “build fit-for-purpose graduates” who are not just job seekers, but agro-entrepreneurs, and challenged institutions to work more closely with industry through applied research and innovation.  “We are not just here to share ideas. We are here to shape the trajectory of a sector and a region,” he reasoned .

President of the Caribbean Agro-Economic Society, Dr Govind Seepersad, described the event as a pivotal moment for the region.  “Climate change, erratic rainfall, and supply chain disruptions are not future threats, they are current realities. If we are to build food-secure Caribbean nations, our response must be strategic, collaborative, and data-driven,” he said. Dr Seepersad also stressed the importance of AI, precision farming, and regional integration in moving the Caribbean’s food system forward.

Delivering remarks on behalf of CARICOM, Senior Projects Officer for Agricultural Development, Ms Denise Murillo, emphasised the value of academic collaboration.  “This conference is not just timely, it is essential. The University of Guyana, as an Associate Institution of CARICOM, plays a vital role in advancing agricultural innovation, resilience, and inclusive development across the region,”  she said.  

Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Lambert Chester, underscored the importance of the conference in fostering research collaboration and showcasing regional opportunities in agriculture.  “Over the next few days, we anticipate thought-provoking discussions and meaningful networking that can lead to actionable outcomes,”  he said.

Conference Chair of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) Dr Donna Morrison, expressed deep appreciation to the Caribbean Agro-Economic Society for entrusting UG with the event. She noted that the programme includes presentations on Guyana’s agriculture; transportation and infrastructure; the blue economy; food and nutrition security; agricultural trade, and more . “The diversity of topics reflects the region’s priorities and our shared commitment to sustainability and resilience,” she said.

The five-day event, which runs until July 25, will feature a series of presentations, exhibitions, and networking activities, drawing participation from academic institutions, policymakers, private sector actors, and development partners from across the Caribbean and beyond.

This year’s conference is being held with support from the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), Insurance Brokers Guyana Limited (IGBL), the University of the West Indies (UWI), the Guyana Rice Producers’ Board, UMAMI, Ministry of Tourism, Industry & Commerce, and WANSAT Inc.

As the region continues to navigate climate change, supply chain disruptions, and economic pressures, the 35th West Indies Agricultural Economics Conference is expected to be a catalyst for renewed focus and regional collaboration in shaping a food-secure future for the Caribbean.

Please click this link for the video of the opening ceremony: https://shorturl.at/ARyQg  Please click this link for photos of the ceremony: https://shorturl.at/Y15zu