THE TRIPARTITE COLLABORATION AIMS TO STRENGTHEN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR AND BOLSTER SAINT LUCIA’S FOOD SECURITY POLICY.

The Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia and the Caribbean Cooperative Measurement, Reporting and Verification (CCMRV) Hub have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at fostering better data collection and climate-resilient agriculture.

The signing ceremony was held on Thursday morning, February 13, 2025, in the conference room of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, on the Castries Waterfront.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Mr. Daniel Lee, Chief of the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia, and Mr. Michael Gillenwater, Interim Director of the Caribbean Cooperative Measurement, Reporting and Verification (CCMRV) Hub, and witnessed by H.E. Nicole Su, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, and Hon. Alfred Prospere, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, H.E. Nicole Su, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, said the project bears great significance in terms of the tripartite collaboration involved and the benefits that would bolster the local agricultural sector.

“The CCMRV Hub has impressive experience in innovative projects in strengthening resilience against climate change in the local communities,” Ambassador Su explained. “With this project, working with the Taiwan Technical Mission here in Saint Lucia, I’m sure that both the CCMRV Hub and the local farmers who participate in this project will find this tripartite manner of cooperation effectively bring the invaluable experience and precious knowledge to the project. For this, I’d like to thank Hon. Prospere and his team at the Ministry of Agriculture for their support in conducting this particular project. This would not be possible without your feedback and input during the consultation process.”

As climate change continues to pose tremendous threats to the planet, Ambassador Su said extreme weather events have been demonstrating damaging impacts on livelihoods and specifically food security. She said the project is the crucial first step towards building sustainable development for Saint Lucia’s food security policy.

“I’d like to reaffirm that Taiwan is fully committed to working closely with our brothers and sisters of Saint Lucia in addressing these challenging times together,” Ambassador Su stated. “Lastly, I’d like to wish this project great success and look forward to a resilient future for all of us.”

Hon. Alfred Prospere, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, thanked all stakeholders involved in the project. He said accurate and up-to-date data is required for decision-making, including deciding what crops to produce locally to offset the island’s growing food import bill.

“This project has very significant benefits to the agricultural sector and as Minister for Agriculture, I will provide all the support that is needed to ensure that we make effective use of the data,” Hon. Prospere said.

Hon. Prospere said the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) had committed to reduce the Region’s food import bill by 25% by 2025. The implementation of the CARICOM Agri-Food Systems Strategy in Member States was expected to help achieve this target by giving special attention to poultry, corn, soya, meat, rice and niche vegetables, which are highly imported products in the Region. However, he said no significant reduction of the Region’s food import bill has been made, prompting a recommendation that CARICOM extend the period to 2030.

“I’m saying all of this to let you know how important this data-driven decision-making exercise means to my Ministry,” Hon. Prospere explained. “I hope it will be a very successful undertaking because it is critical for us as a country to work towards reducing our food import bill.”

Hon. Prospere said his Ministry will conduct an agriculture and fisheries census over the next few weeks to determine the impact those sub-sectors have on the local economy. The census will also gauge farmers’ understanding of factors of production, how to lessen the effects of climate change, and other aspects of their survival.

Ms. Benise Joseph, Programme Officer for the Caribbean Cooperative Measurement, Reporting and Verification (CCMRV) Hub, said the signing ceremony crystallized the partnership between the Taiwan Technical Mission in Saint Lucia and the CCMRV Hub. She noted that discussion on the project began in 2023 at the MRV Hub’s annual meeting held in Saint Lucia that explored possible collaborations between the two agencies.

“For us at the MRV Hub, this MoU is more than just a document; it represents a shared commitment to enhancing the agricultural sector in Saint Lucia and, hopefully, across the wider Caribbean,” Joseph said. “More importantly, it aligns with our collective mission to combat climate change through innovation, data-driven solutions and sustainable practices.”

The CCMRV Hub, also referred to as the MRV Hub, is a regional institution dedicated to fostering technical excellence and supporting policy-relevant climate accounting across the Caribbean. The agency aims to strengthen the capacity of Caribbean nations by providing technical services that help governments fulfil their Paris Agreement commitments and transition to the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF).

Joseph said the Climate Impact and Data Enhancement Project envisages a future where data-driven decision-making supports sustainable agricultural development while enhancing resilience to climate change.

“Through this initiative, we aim to strengthen data collection methodologies in the agricultural sector, introduce innovative technologies to improve climate-smart farming practices, and support evidence-based policy-making that aligns with climate adaptation and mitigation goals,” Joseph explained. “By strengthening data collection methodologies and introducing innovative technologies, we are laying the groundwork for the next generation of climate-smart farmers and policymakers.”

Meanwhile, Ms. Adline Eudovic, Project Coordinator for the Seven Crops Project, said the project will measure the impact of climate change on the various crops that fall under the Seven Crops Project, assess the resilience to climate change, and also assess how such impact affects local farmers.

Other officials present at the signing ceremony were Mr. Hugo Lo, Project Manager for the Seven Crops Project; Dr. Randel Esnard, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development; Mr. Kemuel Jn Baptiste, Director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development; and Mr. Thaddeus Constantine, Deputy Director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development. Meanwhile, Mr. Michael Gillenwater, Board Member for the Caribbean Cooperative Measurement, Reporting and Verification (CCMRV) Hub, witnessed the signing ceremony virtually.