Caribbean Launches “NextGenSP” Project to Revitalize Sweet potato Production and Boost Food Security
Kingston, Jamaica; St. John’s, Antigua & Barbuda; Castries, St. Lucia – February 26, 2025 – The Next Generation Sweet potato Production in the Caribbean Project (NextGenSP) officially launched today with a hybrid event simultaneously taking place in Jamaica, Antigua & Barbuda, and St. Lucia. This groundbreaking initiative addresses critical challenges in sweet potato production and aims to unlock the crop’s full potential for enhanced regional food security and economic growth.
Sweet potatoes are a vital economic and nutritional resource in the Caribbean, thriving in the region’s tropical climate. However, traditional farming practices, including the continuous use of planting materials from previous production cycles, have led to the accumulation of viruses and pests, resulting in declining yields and impacting crop quality. The NextGenSP project aims to overcome these challenges and enhance the sweet potato’s contribution to local and international markets.
Funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Treaty of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the European Union, the four-year project is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministries of Agriculture and the Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute (CARDI) in Antigua & Barbuda, Jamaica, and St. Lucia.
Kent Coipel, IICA’s Representative in Jamaica, reiterated the project’s focus on building resilience, sustainability, and economic opportunities for farmers across the Caribbean. The regional initiative signifies a unified effort to leverage the sweet potato’s potential, driving agricultural growth and food security in the face of evolving global challenges
The initiative was warmly welcomed by Jamaica’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, who delivered the keynote address. Minister Green emphasized the critical role of sweet potato in regional food security, citing its versatility and potential for import substitution, particularly in addressing the reliance on imported wheat flour and animal feed. He highlighted the significant export potential of Caribbean sweet potatoes, noting Jamaica’s successful exports to markets in Canada, the UK, and other territories, generating US$3 million in 2024. However, he stressed the region’s capacity to significantly expand these figures, particularly given the growing demand in key markets like Canada and the UK.
The project was also lauded by Antigua and Barbuda and St. Lucia. Gregory Bailey, Director of Agriculture in Antigua and Barbuda, underscored the sweet potato’s nutritional benefits and its adaptability to climate change, highlighting its potential for economic diversification. Similar to Minister Green, Kemuel Jn Baptiste, Director of Agricultural Services in St. Lucia, highlighted the export potential of the sweet potato, elaborating on the opportunities for regional and global market expansion.
Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, International Specialist, Crop Production and Innovation, gave an overview of the NextGen SP project, with her presentation centered on the foundational principles of sustainable use and equitable benefit-sharing of plant genetic resources.
Gregg Rawlins, IICA Representative in the ECS in his closing remarks, acknowledged the vital contributions of partnering organizations, including FAO, CARDI, World University Services of Canada (WUSC), and Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI), and stressed the importance of active participation from the Ministries of Agriculture in each country to ensure the project’s success. The initiative is expected to address key challenges in sweet potato production, leading to improved food security across the region.
By sharing resources and embracing innovation, NextGenSP is building a stronger, more resilient sweet potato industry for the entire Caribbean region.
To initiate project activities, a project inception meeting with stakeholders and Ministry technicians was held immediately after the launch.
IICA is the specialized agency for agriculture in the Inter-American system, with a mission to encourage, promote and support its 34 member states in their efforts to achieve agricultural development and rural well-being through international technical cooperation of excellence.
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