“Journey to sustainability through food security” is the theme of the 2025 Tobago AgriTech Innovation Summit.
This is the second edition of the summit, which seeks to strengthen agricultural resilience and build systems that are sustainable, efficient, and futuristic.
According to Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Secretary for Food Security, Natural Resources, the Environment, and Sustainable Development, Natisha Charles-Pantin, the Tobago AgriTech Innovation Summit will bring stakeholders together to foster transformation.
She says this is especially important for Tobago, as food security is Tobago’s business.
“Agriculture has always been part of Tobago’s identity. Our people have the passion, the willingness and the instinct for production. But agriculture is also a science, a science that evolves constantly and demands continuous learning and collaboration. This summit is therefore strategically important. It bridges the gap between traditional knowledge and modern capabilities, ensuring that technology becomes accessible to every Tobago farmer, processor, fisherfolk, and stakeholder.”
THA Secretary of Health, Wellness and Social Protection, Dr. Faith Brebnor, highlighted the connection between food security and public health.
“Food security is inherently a public health issue. When people have access to fresh, nutritious, locally produced foods, we would see lower rates of NCDs, stronger immunity across the population, healthier children and elderly, and reduced dependency on imported products that are often overly processed, high in sodium, and high in preservatives.”
Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Ravi Ratiram noted the importance of a country’s ability to feed itself. He said that in Trinidad and Tobago, strengthening agriculture is not just about boosting production: it is about protecting people, supporting communities, and securing the future.
“We want an agricultural sector that is modern, productive, and sustainable. We want to support our farmers and fisherfolk, and we want to ensure that the next generation inherits land and sea that are healthy and well managed. At the end of the day, our Prime Minister always says to us, the environment, even though we may hold office, the environment doesn’t belong to us. It belongs to the future generations.”
The Tobago AgriTech Innovation Summit is expected to be conducted over the next three days.