In a coordinated push to spark youth interest in Caribbean agriculture, the CARICOM Secretariat has officially launched the Regional High School Youth in Agriculture Video Competition, opening submissions for secondary schools across the 15-nation Caribbean Community. Announced by the CARICOM Secretariat on July 24, 2026, and publicized on July 27, the initiative brings together multiple leading regional and global agricultural bodies to amplify the voices and work of young people growing food and leading sustainable farming projects in their local communities.
Organizers of the competition include the CARICOM Secretariat in partnership with the CARICOM Youth Advisory Body (YAB), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). This cross-partnership collaboration reflects broad consensus across regional institutions about the urgent need to engage the next generation in addressing regional food security and building a sustainable agricultural economy.
Participating high schools are invited to submit a 60-second original video that highlights student-led agricultural production activities on school grounds, centers student leadership, and articulates the critical role that agriculture plays in local communities, national economies, and the broader Caribbean region. The format is designed to be accessible to student creators, allowing them to lean into creativity, digital storytelling, and personal perspective to showcase their work rather than adhering to rigid reporting requirements.
The submission deadline for all entries is September 4, 2026. Full competition guidelines, eligibility requirements, and submission instructions are available through official CARICOM channels. Three winning entries will receive cash prizes designed to support further school agricultural initiatives: first place takes home US$1,700, second place is awarded US$1,300, and third place receives US$1,000.
At its core, the competition is a strategic outreach effort that targets multiple key goals for Caribbean agricultural development. First, it aims to raise public awareness of the growing role of young people in the regional agriculture sector, bringing visibility to youth-led projects that often fly under the radar. Second, it creates a platform to highlight successful student-led agricultural production programs across all CARICOM member states, creating opportunities for knowledge sharing between schools and communities. Third, the initiative seeks to educate participating students and their peers about the interconnectedness of agriculture to regional food security, environmental sustainability, and broader economic growth. It also showcases the innovative techniques, new ideas, and creative approaches that make modern agriculture an engaging and impactful field. Finally, competition organizers hope to challenge outdated narratives around farming as a static career, inspiring more young Caribbean people to consider agriculture as a viable, rewarding career path or entrepreneurial business opportunity.