At the 2026 Caribbean Week of Agriculture in Jamaica, CARICOM officials highlighted the Caribbean's continuing dependence on imported food.
The region reportedly imports more than 60% of the food it consumes, while some CARICOM countries import up to 80%. Officials are calling for greater investment in Caribbean agriculture, stronger regional trade, and increased local food production.
The issue matters because heavy dependence on imports can leave Caribbean countries more exposed to global food-price increases, shipping disruptions, extreme weather, and other international supply shocks.
A strong discussion question for ReggaeMe would be:
“Should Caribbean countries be producing more of their own food instead of depending so heavily on imports?”