Part of the significance of the staging of the recent 25 x 2025 forum in Guyana was the sense of urgency which the region is now compelled to attach to its food security in the wake of its shocking and wholly inexcusable revelation that its extra-regional food import bill is probably in excess of US$6 billion. This, in itself, is not a reflection of the region’s inability to feed itself, given the volumes of local agricultural produce, particularly in Guyana. It is, plain and simple, a self-inflicted, inexcusable failure. Indeed, some countries in the region, Jamaica being a standout in this regard, have not only been holding their own in agricultural production but have been more successful than any other country in the region in promoting its agro-produce in Europe and North America.
