OECS demands urgent action on regional food sovereignty

Published on October 19, 2026

OECS Governments and their Ministers of Agriculture have been reminded of the urgent need to fast track regional food security initiatives.

The Ministers were also urged to set firm deadlines to eliminate the ‘region’s agricultural implementation deficit” and deepen ‘strategic partnerships with key regional institutions.

In his address to the Ministers of Agriculture the OECS Director General Dr Didacus Jules underscored the existential necessity of food self-reliance amidst escalating global trade volatility and external economic shocks.

Emphasising that food security sits at the core of national sovereignty, Dr Jules urged leaders to exercise their collective agency to protect citizens.

To bridge this deficit, Dr Jules outlined five strategic shifts for the OECS Food and Agriculture Systems Transformation (FAST) Strategy: transitioning from policy reviews to firm decision deadlines, leveraging collective purchasing power, building dedicated regional maritime shipping corridors, harmonising agricultural and food safety standards, and protecting core production assets like seed, soil, water and pollinators.

Outgoing Chairman, Honourable John P. Osbourne, Minister for Agriculture of Montserrat highlighted priorities including water resilience, climate-smart infrastructure, protected agriculture, and inter-island trade logistics enabling private-sector ferry initiatives to move both passengers and farm produce.