The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in Antigua and Barbuda convened its 2025 Accountability Seminar on Tuesday, bringing together government officials, farmers, youth representatives, development partners and other stakeholders under the theme "Agriculture Today… Food Sustainability Tomorrow."
According to Antigua.news, the event was held at the John E. St. Luce Finance and Conference Centre, where participants reviewed IICA's achievements over the past year and examined priorities for 2026. Key areas of focus included food security, climate resilience, agricultural innovation, youth engagement and rural development.
The seminar featured testimonials from local beneficiaries who spoke to the tangible impact of IICA-supported programmes. Among them were SHAADE Hydroponics CEO Sherrie-Ann Brazier and Antigua and Barbuda Agriculture Forum for Youth (ABAFY) President Michael Joseph, both of whom highlighted the positive outcomes of initiatives backed by the organisation.
IICA Eastern Caribbean States Representative Gregg Rawlins underscored the critical role of partnerships and innovation in tackling pressing challenges, including climate change, food insecurity and the rising cost of food imports.
A central feature of the event was the presentation of IICA's 2025 Annual Report and 2026 Workplan by National Specialist Craig Thomas. The report outlined several active initiatives, including the Next Generation Sweet Potato Production Project, the rehabilitation of the iconic Antigua Black Pineapple, climate-smart agriculture programmes and disaster preparedness efforts.
Agriculture Minister Anthony Smith Jr. commended IICA's contributions to the sector and called for sustained investment and collaboration to bolster local food production and long-term sustainability.
The seminar closed with an open discussion on future priorities, followed by the distribution of annual reports to key partners and stakeholders — reaffirming a collective commitment to advancing agriculture and food security across Antigua and Barbuda.
