‘Instability in Europe could impact cost of what we eat’

The stability of local food prices is under serious threat because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

On one hand, the two warring nations provide one-quarter of the world’s wheat – a critical component for many locally consumed foods. On the other hand are increasing energy prices, which will drive up the cost of all modern forms of agricultural production.

In response to the sudden food security threat, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Indar Weir has unveiled an ambitious plan to  source all of this country’s wheat within the
Caribbean, Latin America and the African continent.

Weir told Barbados TODAY that key officials from Guyana and Suriname, the region’s largest producers of grain, have been engaged with the view to eliminate all dependence on wheat from Eastern Europe.

“We are looking at Latin America as well, Brazil and Argentina for example and I met with those two already and they also supply grains,”  Weir disclosed on Wednesday.

“As a matter of fact, they also make animal feed, so there are a lot of options on the table and I have my hand in a number of jars. We are not relying on the traditional trade partners in order for us to be able to get through this. We are looking at new options.

“I met with the Minister of Agriculture of Ghana as well and we are exploring new options for us to be able to mitigate what is happening between Russia and Ukraine,” he added.

Weir also revealed plans to develop a regional food terminal in Barbados to serve as a distribution hub for trade throughout the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

And, after a dip in local agricultural production last year, efforts are underway to ramp up cultivation across the island’s rural landscape.

“What I just outlined to you is the complete removal from reliance on those two source markets [Russia and Ukraine] and moving into new source markets and becoming self-sufficient in the things we consume within CARICOM,” said Weir.

But he admitted that the country’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels for energy would pose some difficulty to the stability of food costs.

“If you look at all of what is unfolding with Russia and Ukraine, it basically signals to us that we now have to ramp up our approach to moving towards carbon neutral footprints and rolling out more of the renewable energy projects that may be before us in order that we may also mitigate the cost of energy, because energy is going to be critical in all of this,” stressed Weir.

“Nothing can be done without energy and that is the critical point. We have already started the process of a food terminal, but what is it going to be driven by? It is going to be driven by energy,” he added.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) James Paul noted that any fallout from the conflict would take time to be felt.

He said the greatest impact would be on key input products like corn, wheat and soya with a domino effect on both crops and livestock.

“Certainly fruits and vegetables because fertilizer costs are going to go up for sure,” said Paul.

“We have been talking to some suppliers and they are very worried at this time about fruit and vegetable and crop production.

“We are also watching and monitoring very carefully our livestock industry including dairy and poultry and pork.

“If the energy costs go up that goes into everything and it will also have an impact. We are living in very challenging times,” the BAS executive added.
kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb