Aims to foster better data collection and climate-resilient agriculture
The Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia and the Caribbean Cooperative Measurement, Reporting and Verification (CCMRV) Hub have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at fostering better data collection and climate-resilient agriculture.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Daniel Lee, Chief of the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia, and Michael Gillenwater, Interim Director of the Caribbean Cooperative Measurement, Reporting and Verification (CCMRV) Hub, and witnessed by H.E. Nicole Su, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, and Alfred Prospere, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development. On the Castries Waterfront, the signing ceremony was held on February 13, 2025, in the conference room of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, H.E. Nicole Su, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, said the project bears great significance in terms of the tripartite collaboration involved and the benefits that would bolster the local agricultural sector.
The CCMRV Hub has impressive experience in innovative projects in strengthening resilience against climate change in the local communities,” Ambassador Su explained. “With this project, working with the Taiwan Technical Mission here in Saint Lucia, I’m sure that both the CCMRV Hub and the local farmers who participate in this project will find this tripartite manner of cooperation bring invaluable experience and precious knowledge to the project. For this, I’d like to thank Hon. Prospere and his team at the Ministry of Agriculture for their support in conducting this particular project. This would not be possible without your feedback and input during the consultation process.”
As climate change continues to pose tremendous threats to the planet, Ambassador Su said extreme weather events have been demonstrating damaging impacts on livelihoods and specifically food security. She said the project is the crucial first step towards building sustainable development for Saint Lucia’s food security policy.
During his remarks, Minister Prospere thanked all stakeholders for their contribution to the project. He said reliable and current information is crucial to making informed decisions regarding what crops to grow locally to offset the growing import bill for food on the island.
Agricultural, Fisheries, Food Security, and Rural Development Minister Alfred Prospere thanked all stakeholders involved in the project and said it is crucial to have accurate and up-to-date data for decision-making, including deciding what crops to grow locally to offset the island’s growing food import bills.
Minister Prospere said the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) had committed to reduce the Region’s food import bill by 25% by 2025. The implementation of the CARICOM Agri-Food Systems Strategy in Member States was expected to help achieve this target by giving special attention to poultry, corn, soya, meat, rice and niche vegetables, which are highly imported products in the Region. However, he said no significant reduction of the Region’s food import bill has been made, prompting a recommendation that CARICOM extend the period to 2030.
Benise Joseph, Programme Officer for the Caribbean Cooperative Measurement, Reporting and Verification (CCMRV) Hub, said the signing ceremony crystallized the partnership between the Taiwan Technical Mission in Saint Lucia and the CCMRV Hub. She noted that discussion on the project began in 2023 at the MRV Hub’s annual meeting held in Saint Lucia that explored possible collaborations between the two agencies.
The CCMRV Hub, also referred to as the MRV Hub, is a regional institution dedicated to fostering technical excellence and supporting policy-relevant climate accounting across the Caribbean. The agency aims to strengthen the capacity of Caribbean nations by providing technical services that help governments fulfil their Paris Agreement commitments and transition to the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF).
