Over 3 million people experiencing food insecurity in the Caribbean

Amid calls for the BVI to ramp up local food production, new research has confirmed that nearly 3.2 million people in the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean are food insecure.

According to the latest Food Security and Livelihoods Survey by the United Nations World Food Programme and CARICOM, in 2025, thirty percent of Caribbean people reported eating less than usual.

This trend has persisted over the past four years, driven by increased food costs linked to global geopolitical factors, including recently imposed US tariffs on global goods that have affected supply chains across the Caribbean.

Across the region, countries continue to face food-related challenges due to geographic remoteness, limited locally available resources, and exposure to worsening climate conditions.

“The Caribbean is particularly vulnerable to natural hazards and supply chain disruptions, which can cause rapid increases in food prices. It’s deeply concerning that many people are struggling to afford the food they need,” said Brian Bogart, a UN representative in the Caribbean.

Local food production efforts are also being hampered by rising operational costs. The survey revealed that among farmers, eighty-five percent reported higher prices for animal feed and tools or machinery, eighty-one percent noted rising fertiliser costs, and seventy-three percent cited increased seed prices.

In the BVI, there have been repeated calls for more investment in agriculture to enhance food security and promote better health and wellness in the community. While the government has pledged to place more focus on the local agricultural sector, no concrete measures have yet been introduced.

Instead, the government is currently seeking alternative trading partners — including Brazil, St. Maarten, Guyana, and the Dominican Republic — that can supply goods in place of the United States, in an effort to reduce the territory’s food import bill.