Bilateral meeting with H.E. Floyd Green, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, of Jamaica

Rome - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu met H.E. ​​Floyd Green, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining of Jamaica, on the sidelines of the World Food Forum at FAO headquarters in Rome.

Minister Floyd emphasized the importance of the first Hand-in-Hand investment project presented at the World Food Forum, and highlighted the significance of the inaugural Hand-in-Hand investment project, valued at USD 20 million, for Barbados, Jamaica, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. While acknowledging its relatively small size, he emphasized its potential to catalyze sustainable agricultural development and bolster economic resilience in the region.

Minister Floyd recalled the severe damage inflicted by Hurricane Beryl (Category 5) in July 2024, which exceeded USD 4.73 billion and impacted FAO beneficiaries in the southern region. He proposed the establishment of a Natural Disaster Reserve Fund, a pooled resource from UN agencies, to provide timely aid in the face of unforeseen calamities.

The Director-General welcomed the Minister and underscored the importance of concerted efforts among nations to secure assistance. The FAO Director-General suggested the possibility of establishing a trust or reserve fund through contributions from major donors worldwide but acknowledged the difficulties of securing funding during periods of financial constraints.

Minister Floyd also mentioned the launch of a new strategic platform by the Caribbean region, aimed at advancing five plans for agrifood system development. The FAO Director-General invited Minister Floyd to present these plans to FAO, emphasizing the perspective of the younger generation to enhance visibility and engagement.