In November 2014, Minister Gray and his Ministry’s senior officers met with Dr. Jerome Thomas, FAO’s Representative for The Bahamas, Belize and Jamaica for his second of two annual visits. FAO’s projects currently underway were discussed, as well as FAO’s Vision and Goals. FAO’s Vision is “a world free from hunger and malnutrition where food and agriculture contribute to improving the living standards of all, especially the poorest, in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner." The three main goals of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation are: “1) the eradication of hunger, food insecurity 2 and malnutrition; 2) the elimination of poverty and the driving forward of economic and social progress for all; and, 3) the sustainable management and utilization of natural resources, including land, water, air, climate and genetic resources for the benefit of present and future generations.”

PRIORITY AREAS OUTLINED FOR THE BAHAMAS

During the November 2014 meeting, priority areas outlined for The Bahamas for 2014/2015 were: -

1. Sustainable management of Marine resources;

2. Increased assistance to BAMSI in the area of Agriculture and Marine Resources;

3. Abaco Forestry Management Project;

4. Strengthen food safety system to provide linkages with the Tourism Sector; and

5. The aquaculture project that is currently under way and also meet with the officials of BAIC and BAMSI.

Minister Gray reassured Dr. Thomas that the Government of The Bahamas remains resolute in its commitment to sustainable food security and is doing its part in the eradication of hunger through the Ministry of Social Services, which has been mandated to ensure that every household in The Bahamas has sufficient food by the end of 2015.

FAO’s REGIONAL INITIATIVES

Dr. Thomas briefed Minister Gray on the regional initiatives underway by the FAO, which includes: -

1. Support to the Hunger Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative;

2. Family farming and rural territorial development in Latin America and the Caribbean; and

3. Improving food and feed systems in the Caribbean (Agricultural and Food Value Chain Development).

In closing out FAO’s 2014 Bahamas visit, Dr. Thomas foreshadowed a meeting with FAO’s Director-General and CARICOM Ministers of Agriculture during his visit to attend the upcoming CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, as a guest of the Prime Minister.

FAO DIRECTOR-GENERAL (DG)

FAO Director-General Dr. José Graziano da Silva has refocused FAO’s work, reinforcing its institutional capacities, strengthening partnerships with civil society, private sector and academia and boosting FAO's support for South-South Cooperation. His efforts are said to have resulted in best value for money for FAO and its partners.

“He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Agronomy and a Master's Degree in Rural Economics and Sociology from the University of São Paulo (USP), and a Ph.D. in Economic Sciences from the 3 State University of Campinas (UNICAMP). He also has two post-Doctorate Degrees in Latin American Studies (University College of London) and Environmental Studies (University of California, Santa Cruz).”

“Graziano da Silva is reported as having written or edited over 25 books on rural development, food security, and agrarian economics, and regularly contributes to leading publications and high-level discussions on food security and sustainable agriculture. He was born in the United States on 17th November, 1949. Graziano da Silva is a Brazilian and Italian citizen and has two children and two grandchildren. He is married to Paola Ligasacchi. Graziano da Silva joined FAO in 2006 as the head of FAO’s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean.”

FAO REPRESENTATIVES VISIT

FAO Regional Coordinator Dr. Deep Ford and his team visited in January 2015 to set the stage for the DG’s visit and meetings. During Dr. Ford’s visit the agenda was set for the CARICOM Ministers of Agriculture Meeting on 24th February 2015. He advised Minister Gray that the CARICOM Chile meeting was the genesis of the 24th February 2015 meeting. Dr. Ford outlined key deliverables he and his FAO team were set to achieve, they were: -

1. Begin groundwork for the upcoming FAO Director-General’s visit to The Bahamas to attend the CARICOM Heads of Government meetings and the CARICOM Agriculture Ministers meeting;

2. To Strengthen and widen FAO's position in The Bahamas through linkages with the Ministry's of Health, Education and Trade; and

3. To compile and update information on The Bahamas' Strategy for Food Security and Nutrition 2015.

Dr. Ford explained that there was an ongoing Regional Food Security and Nutrition Project and that Dr. Little was in The Bahamas to meet with stakeholders (animal, plant health, extension officers and relevant Governmental agencies) to gather information to assist in updating and compiling The Bahamas' Food and Nutrition Security Policy. The FAO team held Meetings in January 2015 with officials of the Ministry's of Education, Trade and Health to establish linkages and develop creative long-term projects. It was noted that agriculture in The Bahamas has never had this amount of attention focused on it and it signified a positive shift.

CARICOM MINISTERS OF AGRICULTURE MEETING

Minister Gray with responsibility for agriculture and marine resources will meet with his counterparts from around the Caribbean to assist with the further development of these sectors in the country and region. The ministers will review and discuss: -

1. The report from regional conference;

2. Outline Agreements on both national and regional levels;

3. Post regional conference expectations and FAO’s goals for 2015; and

4. Tabling of matters from the delegation of Agricultural Ministers.

The discussions will center on achieving FAO’s Global Strategic Framework for Food Security and Nutrition 2015 promulgated by the United Nations Millennium Declaration “to reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger by 2015.”

BAMSI TOUR

Minister Gray will lead the delegation of CARICOM Ministers of Agriculture on a tour of The Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) on Wednesday, 25th February 2015. Dr. Godfrey Eneas, The Bahamas Ambassador to FAO and Executive Chairman of BAMSI, will host the delegation of Ministers at BAMSI. The delegation and the Press will tour the construction site, commercial farm, marine farm, plant nursery and meet the students enrolled at BAMSI.

Click HERE to view Amended Ministers of Agriculture Regional Meetings

Click HERE to view Committee on World Food Security Report