CARDI Showcases Applied Research Initiatives Driving Regional Import Substitution at CWA 2026

During the 20th Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) in Trelawny, Jamaica, CARDI hosted a well-attended technical session detailing how targeted agricultural research is actively displacing food imports across CARICOM Member States.

Chaired by CARDI Executive Director Ansari Hosein, the session brought together regional researchers and country representatives to present field results, agronomic evaluations, and commercial expansion plans for critical staple and vegetable crops.

Summary of Research Presentations:

• Belize: Omaira Avila-Rostant shared technical achievements in local wheat adaptation trials and ongoing support for commercial corn grain production to enhance regional feed and grain security.
• Barbados: Christina Pooler detailed performance evaluations of heat-tolerant broccoli varieties, offering local vegetable farmers viable options during high-temperature growing windows.
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Donawa Jackson presented strategies for scaling peanut production systems and highlighted the commercial potential for expanded local carrot cultivation.
• Trinidad and Tobago: Fayaz Shah outlined outcomes from pilot black eye pea trials, establishing key agronomic parameters for wider regional legume production.

The session closed with an interactive Q&A, reinforcing how collaborative scientific research and standardized field practices directly support the region’s 25% by 2025 food import reduction goals.