PR – The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Grenada facilitated a Common Vision Session on the Food Safety Performance, Vision and Strategy (PVS) Tool on October 31, 2025, bringing together public and private sector stakeholders to advance Grenada’s ongoing efforts to modernise and strengthen its national food control systems.
The session, hosted at the Public Workers Union Building, was held in collaboration with the Caribbean Agriculture Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA) and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) under EU Food Security SPS Measures Project, which supports the region’s goal of safer, more resilient, and trade ready food systems.
Participants represented a wide cross-section of sectors, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, Grenada Bureau of Standards, Environmental Health Department, Department of Fisheries, the Grenada Cooperative Nutmeg Association,
Grenada Cocoa Association, Produce Chemist Lab, fish retail organisations, chocolate manufacturers, and other agro-processing and food safety entities.
In his opening remarks, IICA’s National Specialist in Grenada, Gregory Delsol, said the initiative forms an integral part of Grenada’s commitment to strengthening and modernising its national food control systems in line with the CARICOM “25 by 2025 Plus 5” initiative.
“As we look towards or as we work towards the CARICOM 25 by 25 plus five initiative, it is important that while we seek to do this, boosting domestic food production and reducing our reliance on imports, it is essential that we do so without compromising our food safety systems,” Delsol said. “A resilient and well-regulated food system must underpin our agricultural ambitions. Anything we do, even if we want to expand production, we have to ensure that safe food is available for the public. And when we want to export, this becomes a bigger imperative.
Dr. Janel Yard-Blackman, Food Safety Specialist with the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA), described the session as both timely and significant.
“This is a positive approach to enhance food health, food safety, and trade integrity,” she explained. “The application of this tool provides an opportunity for reflection, alignment, and improvement. It allows us to objectively assess how our national food control systems function – identifying achievements while highlighting areas where capacity building and coordination can further enhance effectiveness. The process encourages transparency, shared responsibility, and continuous improvement in safeguarding public health and supporting trade.”
Speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), Keegan Slinger, Seafood Value Chain Specialist, underscored the importance of food safety along every stage of production and trade.
“Strengthening the critical competencies and food safety capacities along the value chain is crucial for improving the performance and compliance of our fishery trade systems,” he said. “When we invest in capacity building – whether through training, infrastructure or policy – we strengthen not only national systems but also our ability to meet international market standards and secure livelihoods that depend on fisheries.”
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and Cooperatives, Isaac Bhagwan, reinforced the message that food safety is a shared national responsibility.
“Food safety is not only a job for government but for all sectors, disciplines, and commodities,” Bhagwan noted. “Everyone has a role – from producers and processors to regulators and consumers. The work we are doing today helps us move toward a more integrated, collaborative and science-driven approach to food safety that will
ultimately protect our people, strengthen trade, and support our national development goals.”
Delivering an overview of the EU Food Security Programme, Liana Worrell, Project Officer for the initiative, explained that the €19 million programme is the EU’s response to the region’s vulnerability to global shocks such as climate change and supply chain disruptions.
She noted that the programme supports legislative updates, laboratory upgrades, and the creation of a Regional SPS Knowledge Hub for better coordination across the Caribbean.
Other key contributors, including Kenneth Hazard from the Ministry of Health, Amiesha Persaud of the Grenada Bureau of Standards, and Chief Agricultural Officer Thaddeus Peters, highlighted the importance of partnership between agencies, the need for harmonised data systems, and ongoing training to sustain improvements across Grenada’s food safety framework.
The Food Safety Performance, Vision and Strategy (PVS) Tool, jointly developed by IICA and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and supported by the EU Food Security Programme of the Caribbean, helps countries evaluate institutional and operational capacities within their food safety systems, measure progress, and define a shared vision for improvement.
Through initiatives like this, Grenada continues to demonstrate its commitment to developing a safer, more efficient, and internationally compliant food system that supports national and regional goals for food security, public health, and economic growth.
