News Releases

UWI & Collaborators sign MOA to Reduce Caribbean Food Import Bill by 25% by 2025

For Release Upon Receipt - June 6, 2024

St. Augustine


ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago. June 6, 2024 - In a notable effort to cut the Caribbean's US$5 billion food import bill by 25% by 2025, The University of the West Indies (The UWI) St Augustine Campus hosted the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on May 15, 2024. This agreement, between the Caricom Private Sector Organisation (CPSO) and the Consortium of Universities in CARICOM Involved in Agricultural Education and Research (CUCAER), aims to bolster food security and agricultural development across the region. The signing ceremony which took place at the Office of the Campus Principal was conducted in a hybrid format, underscored a significant step in regional collaboration.

Leveraging the collective resources of both organizations to support the 25x2025 initiative set by the Caricom Heads of Government, the MOA solidifies this ambitious initiative which seeks to cut the region's food import bill by a quarter within the next year. Appropriately, the agreement focuses on developing human resource capacity and creating viable proposals to attract private sector investment in key agricultural commodities.

Professor Mark Wuddivira, Dean of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture at The UWI St Augustine Campus, highlighted the significance of this partnership: "Today marks a significant milestone in our journey towards enhancing agricultural development and regional food security. By collaborating closely with stakeholders across government, academia, industry, and civil society, we seek to catalyze transformative change and drive sustainable agri-food system development in alignment with national and regional priorities."

CUCAER comprises prestigious institutions such as Anton de Kom University in Suriname, The University of the Bahamas, the University of Guyana, The University of Trinidad and Tobago, and The UWI St. Augustine Campus. These universities will play a crucial role in supporting the 25x2025 initiative, ensuring its successful implementation through research and educational outreach.

Dr. Patrick Antoine, Chief Executive Officer and Technical Director of the CPSO, emphasized the importance of private sector involvement: "The MOA will help the region build resilience in food security. It is for this reason we are happy to be here with all of you, particularly with the bright minds and tremendous competence that The UWI and other universities under this Consortium bring to the table." He also praised The UWI's efforts to develop more diploma and extension programs accessible to community members.

The signing ceremony was attended by representatives from member universities, the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries and the private sector, all expressing their commitment to advancing the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) goals through public-private partnerships. This MOA represents a crucial step towards fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive growth in the agricultural sector.

End

 

[L-R] Signing the Memorandum of Agreement is Dr. Patrick Antoine CEO and Technical Director CARICOM Private Sector Organization and Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal of The UWI St Augustine Campus.

 

[L-R] After signing the Memorandum of Agreement is Dr. Patrick Antoine CEO and Technical Director CARICOM Private Sector Organization and Professor Rose- Marie Belle Antoine Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal of The UWI St Augustine Campus.

 

Photo 3:  Professor Rose- Marie Belle Antoine Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal of The UWI St Augustine Campus [centre] celebrates with Dr. Patrick Antoine CEO and Technical Director CARICOM Private Sector Organization [centre-left] , Dean of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture Professor Mark Wuddivira [first from right], Mr. Ian Mohammed, Director- Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries [second from right] and Prof. Puran Bridgemohan, Professor, Bio-Sciences Agriculture and Food Technology (BAFT), University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) [first from left].

About The University of the West Indies

 The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region.

 From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Open Campus, and 10 global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

 The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world.

 The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). In the latest World University Rankings 2022, released in September 2021, The UWI moved up an impressive 94 places from last year. In the current global field of some 30,000 universities and elite research institutes, The UWI stands among the top 1.5%.

 The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean, it is also in the top 20 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old).  The UWI is also featured among the leading universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

 For more, visit www.uwi.edu.

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