The CARICOM Secretariat will relaunch its Food for Lunch webinar series in May, this time placing disaster preparedness at the centre of regional discussions as the Caribbean prepares for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.
The latest round of the virtual midday discussions will begin on Friday, May 8, under the theme “Be Ready for the Storm: Caribbean Hurricane Preparedness 2026.”
The webinar series forms part of activities organised by the Secretariat and its regional partners under CARICOM’s 25 by 2025+5 Initiative, the regional food security agenda aimed at reducing the Caribbean’s food import bill by 25 per cent while strengthening agricultural resilience and food systems.
Designed as a knowledge-sharing and collaborative exchange platform, Food for Lunch focuses on sustainable agriculture and food and nutrition security across the Caribbean Community, bringing together farmers, fishers, processors, extension officers, agricultural technicians and wider stakeholders.
According to the Secretariat, this year’s discussions will place special emphasis on disaster readiness in the agriculture sector, recognising the vulnerability of crops, livestock and fisheries to hurricanes and extreme weather events.
The opening session on May 8 will focus on crops and assets, examining strategies to protect farms and agricultural investments ahead of storms.
The second session, scheduled for May 15, will centre on livestock and assets, while the May 22 discussion will address fisheries and assets, a critical area for many Caribbean economies and coastal communities.
The final webinar in the series, set for May 29, will focus on disaster response and recovery, highlighting practical strategies for rebuilding agricultural production and restoring food systems after natural disasters.
The Secretariat said the sessions are open to all stakeholders in the agriculture sector and the wider public, encouraging broad participation across the region.
“Farmers, fishers, processors, extension officers, technicians in the agriculture sector, other agriculture stakeholders and the public are encouraged to register and participate in the sessions. Spread the word!” the Secretariat said.
The Food for Lunch series was first launched in 2023 and has since become one of CARICOM’s regular knowledge platforms, supporting regional efforts to improve food security, build climate resilience and strengthen agricultural systems in the face of mounting environmental and economic challenges.
The Caribbean remains one of the most climate-vulnerable regions in the world, with hurricanes and extreme weather events posing significant threats to food production, supply chains and livelihoods.
By placing hurricane preparedness at the centre of this year’s discussions, CARICOM says the initiative aims to help regional stakeholders strengthen resilience and better protect agricultural assets before disaster.
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