Caption: Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Ravi Ratiram, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Delegation of the European Union Peter Cavendish, Ambassador of Argentina Gustavo Pandiani with other ministry officials
By Sue-Ann Wayow
FOOD security, climate resilience and sustainable rural development in Trinidad and Tobago were some of the items discussed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF) on Monday.
The discussions were held as the ministry hosted the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Accountability and Agricultural Outlook Dialogue at its head office in Chaguanas.
Attending were Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Ravi Ratiram, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Delegation of the European Union Peter Cavendish, Ambassador of Argentina Gustavo Pandiani, senior officials from MALF, representatives from IICA and key private sector stakeholders.
The ministry highlighted IICA’s contribution to climate resilience efforts, including the training of MALF officers in greenhouse gas inventory management and regional early warning systems. Strategic industry development was bolstered through initiatives like queen bee rearing training and cocoa cadmium mitigation, while upgraded tools and digital platforms have improved operational efficiency and data-driven decision-making within MALF.
Ratiram emphasised the importance of unity and innovation in overcoming current global challenges.
He said, “Let us embrace the challenges before us not with fear but with creativity, solidarity and a shared determination to build a food system that is sustainable, inclusive and resilient.”
Ratiram also highlighted the importance of collaboration.
Delivering remarks at the event, IICA representative Trinidad and Tobago Diana Francis, reinforced the power of meaningful partnerships in achieving results.
She said, “The accomplishments shared today were only possible because of genuine collaboration, particularly with the ministry and our partners across the sector. Working together benefits all of us, and proves that even without large budgets, technical cooperation, shared vision and human talent can drive real transformation.”
The Dialogue featured presentations from IICA representatives, diplomats and private sector stakeholders on key themes including agribusiness development, food safety, biodiversity, water management and agri-technology.
MALF stated that it remained committed to fostering such engagements that promote transparency, cooperation and innovation towards building a robust and resilient agricultural sector for Trinidad and Tobago.
