The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has officially launched the nomination period for its highly anticipated 2026 annual agricultural honors: the CARICOM Farmer of the Year Award and the complementary Ministers of Agriculture Young Farmer of the Year Award.
First introduced during the 16th Caribbean Week of Agriculture in October 2021, these dual awards were created to center the critical work of Caribbean farmers and agricultural enterprises that underpin regional food security and food sovereignty. Beyond formal recognition, the flagship Farmer of the Year Award serves two key strategic goals: elevating the public profile of farming careers across the region and positioning Caribbean agriculture as a compelling sector for new investment. It specifically spotlights individuals and entities that have shown outstanding leadership, long-term commitment, and transformative contributions to building a more resilient regional agricultural sector.
Since the award’s launch, the Caribbean community has celebrated a diverse roster of honorees. Deles Warrington of Dominica made history as the award’s first recipient in the inaugural year. Subsequent winners have included Jamaica’s Peter McConnell, representing Trade Winds Citrus Limited, in 2023; Alicia Bogues of Caribbean Broilers Jamaica Group in 2024; and Dave Fairman of The Best Dressed Chicken, a subsidiary of Jamaica Broilers Group, in 2025.
The complementary Young Farmer of the Year Award was developed to nurture the next generation of agricultural leaders, with a mandate to encourage, support, and highlight emerging young agri-preneurs who have already achieved notable success in the regional agri-food space. This award prioritizes forward-thinking traits including innovative problem-solving, creative business models, strong operational management, and a commitment to sustainable growing practices, while working to counter the trend of aging farming populations by making agricultural careers more appealing to younger Caribbean residents.
Like its senior counterpart, the young farmer award has already showcased standout talent across the region. Citerina Atkins of Jamaica claimed the inaugural young farmer honor, followed by fellow Jamaican Diandra Rowe in 2023, Kevorn Vidal of Dominica in 2024, and Michael Joseph of Antigua and Barbuda in 2025.
Per CARICOM’s official press announcement, all nominations must be submitted through the relevant Ministry of Agriculture in each CARICOM Member State or Associate Member by the close of June 2026. To complete their nomination, candidates are required to submit two key materials: a short biography outlining their production type, operational scale, and key achievements, plus a two-minute video that offers a visual walkthrough of their farm operations and highlights how they integrate technology into their work.
The formal selection process will get underway in early July, following the close of the nomination window. The names of the 2026 award winners will be publicly revealed during the opening ceremony of the 20th Caribbean Week of Agriculture, which is scheduled to take place on September 27, 2026, hosted in Jamaica.