The Inter-American Institute for\u00a0 Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing agricultural innovation and regional collaboration\u00a0 through the hosting of the inaugural Next Generation Sweet Potato Production in the Caribbean\u00a0 \u2013 Annual Project Virtual Symposium 2025.<\/p>\n
The event held via zoom on Tuesday October 15, 2025, brought together more than 90 participants from the Bahamas to Suriname. These included technical experts, policymakers,\u00a0 farmers, and research partners from 13 Caribbean islands to explore harnessing plant and soil\u00a0 microbial genetic diversity to improve sweet potato production in Antigua and Barbuda,\u00a0 Jamaica and St. Lucia.<\/p>\n
Funded by the FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture\u00a0 Benefit-sharing Fund and co-funded by the European Union, the project is implemented by\u00a0 IICA in collaboration with, CARDI and the Ministries of Agriculture in Antigua and Barbuda,\u00a0 St Lucia, and Jamaica.<\/p>\n
In his opening remarks, Gregg Rawlins, IICA Representative in the Eastern Caribbean States,\u00a0 underscored that the project aligns with CARICOM\u2019s 25 by 25+5 Initiative, which aims to\u00a0 reduce regional food imports by 25 percent by 2030.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy improving access to clean, high-quality planting materials and introducing stress-tolerant\u00a0 and pest-resistant varieties, this initiative is helping to build a stronger, more self-reliant\u00a0 Caribbean,\u201d Mr. Rawlins said. \u201cIt\u2019s about more than productivity \u2013 it\u2019s about empowering\u00a0 women, youth, and differently abled persons to lead in transforming our agricultural systems for\u00a0 future generations.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also commended the dedication of the project teams across Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica,\u00a0 and St. Lucia, recognising their progress in establishing a community of practice and advancing\u00a0 research on virus-free cultivars and biocontrol for the sweet potato weevil\u00a0Cylas formicarius<\/i>..<\/p>\n
Representing the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Juan Cheaz, Trade and Markets\u00a0 Officer and Acting FAO Representative in Barbados, highlighted sweet potato\u2019s versatility and\u00a0 resilience as a strategic crop for the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cSweet potato thrives in our soils, withstands drought and heat, and provides vital nutrients to\u00a0 our communities,\u201d he said. \u201cIt connects directly to our goals for food security, climate\u00a0 resilience, and inclusive rural development. To unlock its full potential, we must ensure that<\/p>\n
farmers have consistent and reliable access to clean planting materials. This is the foundation of\u00a0 productivity.\u201d<\/p>\n
He noted that FAO remains committed to working alongside IICA, the International Potato\u00a0 Centre (CIP), and Caribbean countries to strengthen clean seed systems, scale up innovation,\u00a0 and transform knowledge into tangible results for farmers and consumers alike.<\/p>\n
Gregory Bailey, Director of Agriculture in Antigua and Barbuda and Chair of the Project\u00a0 Steering Committee, reflected on the crop\u2019s heritage and enduring importance across the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cSweet potato is more than a crop it is a symbol of resilience, heritage, and sustenance for our\u00a0 people,\u201d he said. \u201cToday\u2019s symposium is not just about reflection but renewal to strengthen\u00a0 collaboration and foster a Caribbean community of practice, where knowledge and innovation\u00a0 flow freely. We are building more than a network; we are cultivating a shared vision for\u00a0 sustainable agriculture.\u201d<\/p>\n
The symposium featured a keynote presentation from Dr. Alexandre Mello, Genetic Resources\u00a0 Scientist at the International Potato Centre (CIP), who shared insights on sweet potato genetic\u00a0 diversity and its potential to address global food and climate challenges.<\/p>\n
The symposium sessions focused on plant and microbial genetic resources utilisation under the\u00a0 Next Generation Sweet Potato Project. Presentations from national project teams highlighted\u00a0 year-one achievements, followed by breakout discussions on sweet potato weevil biocontrol and\u00a0 sweet potato genetic resources, allowing participants to exchange experiences and propose\u00a0 collaborative strategies for scaling up research and farmer engagement.<\/p>\n
Launched between October 2024 and February 2025, the Next Generation Sweet Potato Project\u00a0 has already identified 12 farmer-preferred cultivars in Antigua and Barbuda and St. Lucia for\u00a0 virus cleaning and conservation. Work is also underway on identifying native strains of sweet\u00a0 potato weevil biocontrol fungi and conducting baseline surveys to guide field evaluations in\u00a0 Jamaica. More than 100 technicians have been trained in clean seed systems, biocontrol, and\u00a0 sweet potato clean seed systems, strengthening regional capacity for innovation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Inter-American Institute for\u00a0 Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing agricultural innovation and regional collaboration\u00a0 through the hosting of the inaugural Next Generation Sweet 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News<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"The Inter-American Institute for\u00a0 Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing agricultural innovation and regional collaboration\u00a0 through the hosting of the inaugural Next Generation Sweet 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