Conference of the Caribbean Task Force on Food Safety by Brent Simon and Carol-Faye Bynoe-George
Dr. Janil Gore-Francis/Chief Plant Protection Officer and Ms. Diahan Gomes/Livestock Officer attended, The Conference of the Caribbean Task Force on Food Safety. The conference was convened in Suriname from 10th to 12th September, 2024, under the auspices of the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA).
The theme for this year’s conference was, Food Safety in a Changing Climate: Safe Food, Healthy People, Stronger Communities. This forum enabled a valuable exchange of information as participants shared knowledge, skills, and insights on food safety, while bolstering their social networks.
On the first day of the conference, each member state presented their limitations and frustrations but most importantly possible solutions to the issues and situations facing food safety. Dr, Gore-Francis presented briefly at the meeting highlighting on key food safety issues in the country and defining probable solutions to overcome the challenges.
“It was an interesting one!” “What came out of that was pretty satisfying as, we ended with the five top priorities and solutions as stated by each member state, in terms of the health and food safety in the Caribbean,” said Ms. Gomes.
The top priority was determined to be education and training in food safety and the need for that within each country, so that the whole culture of food safety can be changed. The second was legislation as many policies throughout the Caribbean countries are outdated and the call to further develop, update and implement these policies with authority was made.
The second day found the participants separated into groups with one group looked at codex, and the other group doing research on the Black Soldier Fly with a view to using the larvae of these flies as an alternative source of protein for animal feed.
Ms. Gomes noted that at present the cost of this is prohibitive but is enthusiastic at the possibilities that might develop from ongoing research. She very graciously commended another iconic Antiguan woman, Dr. Nneka Hull James who was very instrumental in the planning of the conference, of which her supervisor spoke highly of her involvement and achievement