Duhaje Jennings, a 38-year-old Jamaican beekeeper and entrepreneur, has been invited to participate in the Conference of Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas 2025 in Brasília. Recognized as one of the Leaders of Rurality of the Americas by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Jennings is celebrated for his contributions to food security and environmental sustainability. The conference, organized by Brazil and IICA, will convene ministers and senior officials from November 3 to 5 to discuss the future of agriculture, emphasizing the role of science, technology, and innovation. Jennings, along with three other Leaders of Rurality, will share insights from their rural communities with the ministers. Jennings’ journey into beekeeping began in childhood, inspired by his grandfather. Starting with just five bee colonies at 18, he now manages around one thousand colonies annually through his company, Dada B’s, which also creates jobs and supports aspiring beekeepers in Jamaica. At the conference, Jennings plans to advocate for the inclusion of agriculture in school curricula, stressing its importance for regional food security. He also proposes exchange programs for Caribbean farmers to learn from successful agricultural practices in countries like Brazil. The event will also feature the 23rd Regular Meeting of the Inter-American Board of Agriculture (IABA), IICA’s highest governing body. The conference aims to address the challenges and opportunities in agriculture, particularly in the face of climate change and food import dependency in the Caribbean.
COMMENTARY: Jamaican beekeeper Duhaje Jennings will share insights on the challenges and opportunities of producing in the Caribbean at the Conference of Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas in Brazil
