WILLEMSTAD – Complete food self-sufficiency is not a realistic goal for the six Caribbean islands of the Kingdom, according to a new baseline study on local food production that highlights the physical limitations facing the region.
The research concludes that while expanding local agriculture is possible, the amount of land, water, and energy required to fully replace imported food far exceeds what most islands can realistically provide.
The study examined not only how much food is currently produced locally but also how much land is being used for agriculture. Researchers found that existing food production occupies only a tiny fraction of available land on many islands.
On Aruba, for example, approximately 34 hectares are currently used for food production, representing just 0.19 percent of the island's total land area. On Bonaire, local food production occupies only about 1.8 hectares, equivalent to just 0.01 percent of the island's surface area.
Researchers say these figures illustrate why complete food independence remains extremely difficult to achieve.
Beyond limited land availability, the islands must contend with chronic drought conditions, scarce freshwater resources, and high energy costs. Modern agricultural methods such as hydroponics and climate-controlled farming require significant amounts of electricity for irrigation, cooling, and controlled growing environments.
The study warns that these constraints place practical limits on how much local food production can realistically be expanded.
As a result, researchers argue that food security strategies should focus on strengthening local production where it makes sense rather than pursuing complete independence from imports.
According to the report, imported food will remain the foundation of the Caribbean islands' food supply systems for the foreseeable future.
However, local agriculture can still play an important strategic role by providing fresh products, strengthening resilience, and reducing vulnerability during temporary disruptions in international supply chains.
The findings come as governments throughout the region continue to examine ways to improve food security following recent global supply chain disruptions and rising food prices.