PHILIPSBURG – The six Dutch Caribbean islands have signed a renewed agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation in agriculture, livestock farming, fisheries, and food security as they seek to reduce their dependence on imported food and build more resilient local food systems.
Representatives from Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Saba, and St. Eustatius signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the Dutch Caribbean Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Alliance (DCALFA), extending regional cooperation through 2035. The agreement was signed during the 2026 DCALFA Conference hosted by Sint Maarten.
The renewed accord builds upon the original agreement signed in 2023 and provides a more structured framework for long-term collaboration among the islands. Officials said the alliance will focus on addressing shared challenges, including food security, food safety, climate resilience, sustainable production, and economic development.
Under the agreement, the islands have adopted the DCALFA Roadmap 2025-2035, which will serve as the guiding framework for joint initiatives and policy development. The roadmap includes priorities such as increasing local food production, promoting innovation in agriculture, strengthening supply chains, and supporting climate-smart farming practices.
The alliance also intends to move toward becoming an independent legal entity, a step that officials believe will improve operational continuity, increase access to external funding, and allow the organization to enter into formal partnerships and implement regional projects more effectively.
The move comes amid growing concern throughout the Caribbean about rising food costs, global supply chain disruptions, geopolitical uncertainty, and the impact of climate change on food production.
By strengthening cooperation, the islands hope to create a more coordinated regional approach to food security while providing new opportunities for farmers, fishers, livestock producers, and agricultural entrepreneurs across the Dutch Caribbean.