Business View Caribbean - Mar 2024

as its scope, involving policy formulations, project management, and stakeholder collaborations to ensure strategic objectives are effectively met. “Our day-to-day operations involve our policy for formulations, project management, and collaborations with our daily stakeholders to ensure the strategic objectives are effectively met,” states Minister Ebanks, highlighting the multifaceted nature of the ministry’s work. FOOD SECURITY AND AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION In a world where sustainability and self-sufficiency are increasingly at the forefront of national agendas, the Cayman Islands is taking significant strides under the guidance of Minister Ebanks. Initiating the Cayman Islands Food and Nutrition Security Policy alongside the LEADS program will enhance the nation’s food sovereignty and agricultural vitality. The minister provides an overview of the driving force behind these pivotal programs. “When we think of food nutrition and the direction the world is heading, we found it imperative to create the first- ever Food Nutrition Policy for the Cayman Islands,” he states. He says this policy was a mere addition to the ministry’s portfolio and a necessary stride toward ensuring the country’s sustainable food and nutrition security development.“It took some time to get done, but it was needed if we wanted to develop and move in the right direction,” he reflects. Going deeper into the specifics, Minister Ebanks sheds light on how the policy branches into various sectors of agriculture, a domain close to his heart. “One thing that is very dear tomy heart is agriculture... and there’s no better way of having better nutrition than to know what you have grown and can supply yourself,” he articulates. This philosophy of ‘eating what you grow’ champions the cause of health and nutrition and emphasizes the importance of self- reliance in a country’s food production capabilities. Minister Ebanks also highlights the innovative LEADS program intricately linked to the Food and Nutrition Security Policy.While detailing the initiatives under this program, he points out,“Our focus on the poultry sector as a quick win shows our commitment to achieving self-sufficiency in egg production, aiming 41 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 11, ISSUE 03 MINISTRY OF PLANNING, AGRICULTURE, AND HOUSING