Sustainably developing production and distribution of produce to benefit people across the Caribbean.

14 May 2021 — The Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) in collaboration with the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg), has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to diversify the Caribbean’s food systems by sustainably developing the fruit and vegetable value chains.

To achieve this, both institutions will undertake joint research and development projects, capacity-building initiatives, and the sharing of experiences, knowledge, and technological advances. Fruits and vegetables are a good source of dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), individuals need approximately 400 grams or five pieces of fruits and vegetables daily. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fat, sugars, and salt contributes to overall health and well-being of individuals.

While the Caribbean has a variety of fruits and vegetables throughout the year, consumption across all countries is under the recommended rate of 104 grams daily per person (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development 2020). Access and availability are two major factors impacting the consumption of fruits and vegetables.

The signing of this MOU is timely, as 2021 has been designated the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables (IYFV) by the United Nations. The collaboration between CARDI and WorldVeg will not only strengthen the production and supply chains for fruits and vegetables but will also raise awareness about the importance of both for the food and nutrition security of people in the Caribbean. Both institutions have begun discussions towards implementing joint projects in plant genetics, breeding, evaluation, and germplasm conservation in selected CARICOM countries.

The immediate focus is on participating in a project in Belize which seeks to promote vegetable diversity for more resilient livelihoods and healthier diets in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region. This will involve field evaluation and promotion of new, improved vegetable varieties for domestic and export markets. Crops of interest are tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), sweet and hot peppers (Capsicum annuum), and pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata). Capacity building in trial management and vegetable breeding are also included. The partnership with WorldVeg will assist with development and introduction of new, improved varieties that meet production and market requirements, leading to farmers achieving improved production, productivity, efficiency, and economic returns.