OCHO RIOS, September 9 (JIS):
Local and international experts, policymakers, and farmers are meeting to discuss solutions to some of the most pressing food and agricultural challenges facing Jamaica and the wider world, at the 10 th International Food Security and Sovereignty Conference.
The two-day event, which got underway Wednesday morning, September 9, 2026, at Sandals Dunn’s River in Mammee Bay, St. Ann, is being hosted by the Food Hygiene Bureau (FHB) under the theme ‘Building Resilience in Food Systems: Enhancing Food Security and Sovereignty’.
Speakers are from the United Kingdom, the United States, Asia, Jamaica and Guyana.
(Minister of State in Tourism, Tova Hamilton, 2nd left, poses with, from left, Sharon Paris Chambers, Conference MC, Dr Marva Hewitt, CEO of Jamaica Food Hygiene Bureau, Conference Organizer, and Jacqueline Knight, MC for Day 2, at the Sandals Dunn’s River Conference Centre, Thursday)
Addressing the recent press launch at Sandals Dunn’s River, Conference Chair and Managing Director of the FHB, Dr. Marva Hewitt, highlighted the need to strengthen Jamaica’s food systems and advance food security and sovereignty, given the country’s vulnerability to climate change.
“Climate change is affecting food security, demanding new innovative ways to
produce food instead of relying on imports,” she said.
Minister of Agriculture Floyd Green opened the conference on Wednesday. On Thursday, the second and final day, the conference is focussing on the linkages between the tourism sector and the agriculture industry.
It will continue with technical sessions, uniting international thought
leaders, policymakers, researchers, innovators, farmers, entrepreneurs, students, and development partners.
(Edited from a Garwin Davis, JIS story)
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