In a historic milestone for Suriname’s agricultural research community, two scholars from Anton de Kom University of Suriname (AdeKUS) have been elected to top leadership positions of the Caribbean Food Crops Society (CFCS), marking the first time the country has secured two simultaneous seats on the regional organization’s governing board.
The election took place on Thursday during the CFCS’s 58th Annual Conference hosted on the U.S. Virgin Islands. Professor Lydia Ori will serve as CFCS president for the 2026–2028 term, while Dr. Wasudha Malgie will take on the role of board secretary. Joining the new leadership slate are Dr. David Sotomayor, elected vice president, and Dr. Willy Colón, who will serve as treasurer.
Founded in 1963, CFCS began as a network focused exclusively on advancing food crop research across the Caribbean. Today, it has evolved into a leading regional knowledge hub that brings together academic researchers, university stakeholders, public agricultural agencies, international organizations, private sector representatives, and students to address pressing challenges facing the region’s food systems. Its expanded current agenda covers climate-resilient agriculture, soil management, crop protection, agroforestry, livestock production, aquaculture, agroprocessing, food safety, biodiversity conservation, agricultural biotechnology, precision farming, and circular agricultural practices.
Each year, the society hosts its flagship international conference, where stakeholders gather to share cutting-edge scientific findings and co-develop solutions for the Caribbean’s agricultural sector. The 59th Annual Conference is scheduled to be hosted by Suriname in 2027, with the 2028 conference set to be held in Jamaica. The theme of Suriname’s upcoming conference is *Exploring New Ways to Cooperation and Partnerships to Strengthen Food Security and Food Safety in the Caribbean Community*, and all preparatory work will be led by the newly elected board including Ori and Malgie.
The appointments of Ori and Malgie represent a major formal recognition of both AdeKUS and Suriname’s broader agricultural and research sectors. In their new leadership roles, the two scholars will play a strategic, unifying role across the organization, guiding CFCS’s ongoing development, accelerating cross-regional collaboration, and overseeing the execution of the society’s annual conferences.
During the 58th conference, attendees reaffirmed that coordinated regional cooperation is non-negotiable for strengthening food security across the Caribbean. Priority areas of focus included expanding climate-resilient agricultural practices, scaling innovation and agricultural technology, fostering cross-sector collaboration between research institutions, academia, government, and private industry, supporting early-career researchers, and expanding cross-border knowledge sharing across the region.
For Suriname, holding top leadership positions within CFCS unlocks significant new opportunities for the nation’s agricultural community. Local researchers and students will gain expanded access to global professional networks, new collaborative research projects, and cross-institutional partnerships, while insights gained through these connections will advance the development of Suriname’s domestic agricultural sector and contribute to stronger regional food security overall.
The election of the two AdeKUS scholars underscores Suriname’s growing influence within the Caribbean scientific community, and cements the university’s standing as a key partner for regional agricultural research.