CPDC Study Urges Reshaping Of CARICOM Food Systems

In the face of mounting health concerns and economic challenges, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries are urged to immediately overhaul their food systems, following a recent study commissioned by CPDC. The study highlights the dire need for transformation, citing the detrimental impact of unhealthy diets laden with fats, sugars, and sodium on the region’s health. The study, entitled ‘A Sustainable Food Systems and Policy Framework for small and medium scale food producers in selected CARICOM countries, was authored by Dr. Fitzroy Henry and Dr. Tigerjeet Ballayram and published by the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) and launched in Trinidad on June 4, 2024. According to the study, the supply of fats and oils, sugars and sweeteners, coupled with a lack of access to nutritious foods due to poverty and unemployment, has fueled an alarming rise in chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). These diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, are increasingly prevalent, posing significant public health risks. Dr Henry and Ballayram pointed out that the region’s food systems have been hindered by more than two decades of slow economic growth, exacerbating issues of food insecurity and inequality. In response to these challenges, they emphasized the necessity of reshaping food systems and policy...