CAPE AGRI RESOURCE

1. The Caribbean Food System
and Controls on
Socioeconomic Development
AuthorsAuthors
Compton L PaulCompton L Paul
Donatus St AimeeDonatus St Aimee
Winston J PhillipsWinston J Phillips
Lynda WickhamLynda Wickham
Christine BocageChristine Bocage
April 2002

2. Present situation with food and
agriculture in the region
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.
No change in policy after adult suffrage, self
rule and independence.
Food production divorced from agricultural
production.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15. Required policy changes (Cont’d)
Regional:
Capacity building to meet global standards
Synchronization of national agenda to regional
requirements

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

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

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

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