By Toni-Ann Latty··3 min read
The future of Caribbean agriculture is being cultivated by a new generation of farmers, students and entrepreneurs, as the 20th staging of Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) opened in Jamaica with regional recognition for outstanding contributors to the sector.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica and Jamaica took top honours at the September 27 opening ceremony, which brought together policymakers, farmers and youth leaders to celebrate achievements in agriculture while highlighting the importance of innovation, food security and sustainable production.
Saint Vincent Girls’ High School captured first place in the CARICOM “I Am Agriculture: Youth in Agriculture High School Video Competition,” ahead of Mopan Technical High School of Belize and Gingerland Secondary School of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Accepting the award on behalf of her school, Zea Glass said the achievement demonstrated that agriculture can provide meaningful opportunities for young people, particularly girls.
“I am very proud of this accomplishment,” Glass said, noting the effort she and her classmates invested in their submission and school farm. The US$1,700 prize, she added, was an incentive for more young women to enter the sector.
Her message reflects a central theme of this year’s CWA: attracting and empowering a new generation to participate in an industry critical to the region’s food security and economic development.
That focus was reinforced with the selection of 28-year-old Dominican farmer Dywany St. John as CARICOM Young Farmer of the Year 2026.
St. John balances his work as a professional police officer in Roseau with managing a farm in the Wesley community, where he employs a circular economy model and supplies fresh produce to the Dominican Export Import Agency and the Multipurpose Pack House.
Inspired by his father, St. John has embraced farming as both a livelihood and a means of contributing to his community.
“Take time to do good,” he said, describing the principle that has guided his journey and his belief that success should also be measured by the contribution one makes to others.
The Young Farmer of the Year award recognises agricultural producers who demonstrate innovation, creativity, technology adoption and strong business practices, while contributing to food security, sustainable livelihoods and climate resilience.
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The Hon. Floyd Green, MP, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining of Jamaica presents Dywany St. John with the CARICOM Young Farmer of the Year 2026 Award. Minister Green is joined by the Hon. Ronald Royer, Minister in the Ministry of Blue and Green Economy of Dominica and René Orellana Halkyer, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean (FAO),
Jamaica claims major award
Jamaica also secured a major regional honour, with Walkerswood named Ministers of Agriculture CARICOM Farmer of the Year 2026.
The award was accepted by Sean Garbutt, Sales and Marketing Director at Associated Manufacturers Limited, the brand’s owners.
The award recognises a farming entity or individual making a significant contribution to food security, economic development and the advancement of Caribbean agriculture.
The recognition also details the growing importance of connecting agricultural production with processing, manufacturing and markets as Caribbean countries seek to strengthen their food systems and retain more value within the region.
Dr. Renata Clarke, Sub-regional Coordinator of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), was also honoured for her contribution to the advancement and transformation of Caribbean food systems.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Dr. Wendell Samuels, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Integration, Innovation and Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, stressed that the future of agriculture requires participation beyond government.
“The future of Caribbean agriculture depends not only on Government actions but on collective responsibility of all of us,” he said.
Samuels pointed specifically to the growing involvement of young people, noting that their energy, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit will be critical to achieving the region’s agricultural objectives.
The awards have set the tone for a week of discussions and activities focused on strengthening Caribbean agriculture at a time when the region continues to confront food security concerns, climate pressures and the need for greater agricultural resilience.
