St. George, Grenada, 17 November 2014/ CTA/ACP: A two-day regional briefing opening today in Grenada will focus on strengthening the links between agriculture and tourism industries, with a view to improve market access and regional trade.

Organised by the ACP-EU Technical Centre for Rural and Agricultural Development (CTA) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Afgriculture (IICA), the meeting aims to analyse the drivers of success focusing on some successful business models; identify further opportunities for linking small-scale farmers to the tourism industry in the Caribbean and increase market linkages; and generate ideas for a regional project on sustainable sourcing by the tourism industry / supermarkets from small-scale farmers.

Up to 40 participants representing Caribbean governments, private sector (hotel industry, farmer’s organisations, finance providers, certification bodies, supermarkets, chefs), cooperation agencies and development partners will analyse and discuss eight selected success stories in linking agriculture and tourism, particularly in terms of how they could be replicated throughout the region.

The outcomes will feed into the first regional agribusiness/agritourism forum in 2015. It is also expected to contribute to discussions at the World Food Expo to be held in Milano, Italy, in 2015, where private sector representatives from the Caribbean will be invited to participate.

The Agribusiness forum: enhancing regional trade and adding value to Caribbean agrifood products takes place 17-18 November in Grenada and will be webstreamed. Viewers may follow the Caribbean Agribusiness Forum live on Monday 17 November 2014 at 2pm CET or 9am Eastern Caribbean Time with the following webstream:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENb46oEBlqE

All documents, incuding latest programme, are available at: http://brusselsbriefings.net

Background Note

Meeting Programme

– CTA/ ACP/ IICA