The Coordinating Council on Agricultural Health and Food Safety for Antigua and Barbuda has formalised a partnership with the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus (UWIFIC), signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing the country's agricultural health and food safety agenda. According to Antigua News Room, the signing ceremony took place on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at the UWIFIC Principal's Conference Room.
With the Campus Principal otherwise engaged, Dr. Camille Samuel, Campus Registrar, signed the document on behalf of the university. The MoU formalises collaboration between the two institutions in support of priority actions outlined in Antigua and Barbuda's Agricultural Health and Food Safety (AHFS) Policy, which was gazetted last year. The agreement builds on work originally developed under the 11th EDF Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) project and its national Action Plan.
In her remarks at the ceremony, Dr. Samuel stressed the importance of strengthening regional food security and reducing the country's dependence on imported foods. She called for a deeper appreciation of Caribbean food culture and emphasised the value of providing students with practical, hands-on experience in agriculture and food systems. She indicated that the campus would look to the Council for support in identifying field stations, navigating regulatory and legislative requirements, and strengthening field extension work.
Speaking on behalf of the Council, Dr. Janil Gore-Francis, Chief Plant Protection Officer, highlighted the critical role of research, collaboration, and public engagement in advancing the partnership's goals. She noted that the university's research capacity would support data collection, analysis, and the development of sustainable interventions aligned with national priorities. Dr. Gore-Francis also drew attention to the Council's broad, multi-sector membership, which includes representatives from fisheries, trade, customs, the Bureau of Standards, plant protection, public health, and the livestock sector.
The signing was witnessed by Mr. Jonah Ormond, Secretary of the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board, and Mr. Ian Horsford, Chief Fisheries Officer, both of whom were present to mark the significance of the occasion.
The partnership is expected to open doors for joint research, student engagement, policy dialogue, and community outreach, including initiatives that promote local food production and consumption. Both institutions expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration and their shared commitment to building a more resilient and sustainable agricultural and food safety system for Antigua and Barbuda.
