Bolstering Cayman Islands food security in the context of climate change: A policy perspective

The COVID-19 pandemic and adverse weather conditions have caused significant crop and animal production losses in the Cayman Islands. As a result, there is a renewed focus and increased efforts to strengthen food security through a comprehensive strategic policy approach. The recently approved Cayman Islands Food and Nutrition Security Policy aims to establish the Cayman Islands as a nation that is secure in terms of food and nutrition. This policy serves as the main framework for driving agricultural growth and development over the next 15 years. It encompasses various strategies, including increased government investment to enhance resilience against climate change and other shocks. The Agricultural Land Lease Policy (ALLP) is another initiative aimed at developing agro-parks/production zones, providing land to the farming community to promote climate-smart agricultural production. The Ministry is also promoting the National Tree Planting program, which involves planting trees across the country to mitigate the impacts of climate change. In addition, the Ministry is actively working on critical legislation such as pesticide control, plant protection, and agriculture bills to further advance the sector. These legislative efforts, along with others in progress, will serve as a foundation to support and enhance the progress being made in the agricultural sector.