ROSEAU, DOMINICA – Ahead of the annual global observance of World Food Day on October 16, Dominica’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy has announced a full week of public activities running October 10 to 16, 2026, designed to highlight agricultural innovation, youth involvement, climate-smart farming practices, and the critical work of building resilient local and global food systems.
World Food Day, first established to mark the 1945 founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is recognized each year to boost global public awareness of ongoing food security challenges and the urgent need for widespread adoption of sustainable food production practices. This year’s global theme, “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow,” centers on the transformative power of cutting-edge techniques and new approaches to agriculture that can deliver a food-secure, well-nourished future for growing global populations.
Dominica’s week-long celebration schedule includes a diverse range of accessible, community-focused programming designed to engage audiences across all ages and sectors. Early activities will feature educational radio panel discussions on food system issues, special faith-based messages centered on food security, a digital showcase hosted by the National Associations of Youth in Agriculture (NAYA), and school-focused outreach including in-classroom discussions, student poster and poetry contests tied to the year’s theme, and targeted extension service engagement for young learners. Media promotions will run throughout the week to keep the public informed and encourage participation.
The centerpiece of the national celebration will take place on October 16 itself at Goodwill Primary School, where the Youth Climate Smart Agriculture, Food & Innovation Showcase will put young agricultural leaders’ work front and center. Organizers have also partnered with the local NDFD “Creole in the Streets” community initiative to add interactive elements including educational booth displays, informational resource packets, and a public fruit tasting event that highlights local agricultural production.
The observance will also feature a formal address from the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy, who will emphasize the dual roles of technological innovation and cross-stakeholder collective action in strengthening Dominica’s domestic food systems. The ministry has issued an open invitation to all segments of Dominican society – from smallholder farmers, students, and educators to agricultural industry stakeholders and everyday consumers – to take part in the activities and reflect on how individual action can support local food production and advance sustainable agriculture across the island.
As a small island developing state working to strengthen its agricultural sector against the impacts of climate change and global market volatility, Dominica’s government remains firmly committed to advancing policy and programming centered on agricultural innovation, climate-smart farming, expanded youth participation, long-term food security, and regenerative, sustainable food systems. Through this year’s World Food Day observance, the nation is reaffirming its dedication to the 2026 theme: innovating in the present to build a nourished, food-secure future for all.