Caribbean Forum Pushes Investment in Food Systems
A UN-hosted Food Systems Investment Forum in Barbados on June 15, 2026 urged governments, investors and development partners to channel equity and blended finance into agriculture, fisheries, processing and logistics across the Caribbean. Organisers launched a USD320 million Deal Book of investment-ready opportunities to bridge the region’s financing gap and boost food security and economic resilience.
A high-level Food Systems Investment Forum held in Barbados on June 15, 2026 brought together Caribbean ministers of agriculture, senior government officials, international financial institutions, private investors and development partners to push an investment-led transformation of regional food systems.
Opening the session “From Policy to Capital Deployment,” United Nations Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Simon Springett warned that Caribbean food systems remain under pressure because capital flows are misaligned. He said financing is still dominated by loans and grants, with patient equity largely absent, while private investment often flows into sectors such as real estate rather than the productive food economy.
Springett urged governments to strengthen enabling environments and called on investors to recognise an emerging pipeline across agriculture, fisheries, processing and logistics. John Morris, chairman of International Asset Management and managing partner of the CaribGROW Fund, echoed the need for equity capital.
He argued that Caribbean businesses with proven revenue, experienced management and defensible market positions can deliver returns, but lack of equity prevents scale and leaves businesses vulnerable to foreign acquisition. Morris said equity creates ownership, wealth creation and retention, and highlighted the role of multilateral institutions, development finance, regional banks and governments in laying the groundwork.
Dr. the Honourable Shantal Munro‑Knight, Barbados Minister of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Security, framed food systems as a major economic and development opportunity for the Caribbean. She called for innovative partnerships that treat Caribbean voices as equals and for capital structures that support logistics, agro-processing, cold chains, digital transformation and agri‑technology. “We’ve come to the table—meet us with your capital,” she told private sector delegates.
The one-day forum emphasised direct investor‑government engagement through roundtables, thematic sessions and bilateral meetings to accelerate deal development. At the close, the UN launched a curated Deal Book listing USD320 million in investment‑ready opportunities across the region, intended to continue the dealmaking started at the forum.
For residents of the British Virgin Islands, the forum’s agenda hits on familiar priorities: reducing heavy import dependence, strengthening fisheries and smallholder agriculture, expanding cold‑chain and processing capacity, and creating jobs while lowering food costs. Mobilising equity and blended finance could help BVI family businesses scale without losing local ownership, support post‑storm resilience, and link food production to the territory’s tourism sector.
Local officials, financial institutions and private investors will need to engage with the Deal Book and regional partners if the BVI is to capture funding and expertise flowing from this initiative.
Primary source: VINO