On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, the Antigua and Barbuda delegation of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) successfully convened its 2025 Accountability Seminar at the John E. St. Luce Finance and Conference Centre, convening a cross-sectoral audience under the forward-looking theme “Agriculture Today…… Food Sustainability Tomorrow.”
The gathering was designed as a transparent, inclusive platform to review the full scope of IICA’s accomplishments, collaborative partnerships, and on-the-ground impact across Antigua and Barbuda’s agricultural sector over 2025, while fostering open dialogue to chart a path forward for sustainable agriculture, enhanced food security, and inclusive rural development for current and future generations. Attendees spanned a wide range of relevant stakeholders, including senior officials from Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy, local smallholder and commercial farmers, youth agricultural advocates, representatives from international development agencies, non-governmental organization leaders, and regional and global partner institutions.
Transparency and public accountability for IICA’s 2025 technical cooperation programs and initiatives stood as the core focus of the day’s proceedings. Morning sessions featured structured presentations and interactive discussions that centered IICA’s key contributions to advancing climate resilience, agricultural innovation, food sovereignty, youth participation in agribusiness, digital agriculture adoption, and improved rural livelihoods across the twin-island nation.
The formal program opened with an opening prayer led by Diahann Gomes, a Livestock Officer with the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy. Gregory Bailey, Director of Agriculture and the seminar’s chairperson, followed with welcoming remarks that framed the purpose and context of the accountability seminar. After a formal introduction of assembled guests, the audience heard firsthand impact testimonials from two local agricultural leaders: Sherrie-Ann Brazier, CEO and founder of SHAADE Hydroponics, and Michael Joseph, President of the Antigua and Barbuda Agriculture Forum for Youth (ABAFY). Both speakers detailed their direct experiences with IICA-supported programs, emphasizing how the institute’s investment has driven tangible positive change for local agricultural operations and youth engagement.
In his keynote remarks, Gregg Rawlins, IICA’s Representative for Eastern Caribbean States, emphasized that cross-sector collaborative partnerships are non-negotiable for advancing agricultural development and building long-term national resilience amid mounting global challenges, including accelerating climate change, widespread food insecurity, skyrocketing food import costs, and volatile external economic pressures. Rawlins reinforced that strategic cooperation and intentional innovation remain the most critical tools for building inclusive, sustainable food systems that deliver benefits to current and future generations.
A key highlight of the seminar was the official presentation of IICA’s 2025 Annual Report and 2026 Workplan by Craig Thomas, National Specialist for the IICA Delegation in Antigua and Barbuda. Thomas’s presentation outlined the institute’s key achievements, active programs, and collaborative partnerships implemented throughout 2025, with special attention placed on flagship initiatives. These include the Next Generation Sweet Potato Production in the Caribbean Project, the ongoing rehabilitation of the iconic Antigua Black pineapple variety, climate-smart agricultural interventions delivered through the Caribbean Climate Responsive Agriculture Forum (CCRAF), expanding digital agriculture access for smallholders, and disaster preparedness programs targeted at strengthening core food systems and overall agricultural resilience.
Hon. Anthony Smith Jr., Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy, delivered official remarks on behalf of the Antigua and Barbuda government, commending IICA and its network of stakeholders for their consistent work to support inclusive agricultural growth and long-term sustainability in the country. Minister Smith echoed the seminar’s core theme, noting that intentional investment in agriculture today is the only way to guarantee food sustainability for current communities and future generations, and called for deeper cross-sector partnerships to boost local food production and national resilience.
Following formal presentations, participants joined an open, interactive discussion on the 2025 Annual Report and 2026 Workplan, creating space for stakeholders to share actionable recommendations, constructive feedback, and innovative ideas to strengthen future IICA programming and advance national agricultural development across Antigua and Barbuda.
In post-seminar feedback, attendees widely praised the gathering as a timely and meaningful opportunity to collectively assess progress, celebrate shared achievements, and align on clear pathways for future action. Stakeholders reached a consensus that accountability, innovation, and cross-sector partnership stand as the three essential pillars for building a resilient agricultural sector that can advance national food security, inclusive economic growth, and sustainable livelihoods for all.
As a tangible demonstration of transparency and commitment to ongoing collaboration, IICA distributed printed and digital copies of its 2025 report to all attending partner organizations and stakeholders. Key recipients included Minister Anthony Smith Jr., Natalia Lawrence from the GEF UNDP Small Grants Programme, Walter Chrostopher, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy, a representative from the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), and Ika Fergus of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This formal distribution underscored the deep, collaborative partnerships that continue to underpin agricultural advancement and food sustainability work across Antigua and Barbuda.
The event drew to a close with closing remarks and a formal vote of thanks delivered by Tamisha Edgecombe-Doram, Assistant Executive Secretary of IICA Antigua and Barbuda, who reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to continued collaboration, accountability, and innovation to advance agricultural development and secure food sustainability for present and future generations.