WILLEMSTAD – Agricultural and food-production projects in Curaçao could begin gaining access to financing through the new CariFoodFund around the end of 2026 and beginning of 2027 as the Kingdom seeks to reduce the Caribbean islands’ dependence on imported food.
The initiative is detailed in the Netherlands’ proposed 2027 Kingdom Relations budget.
The independent foundation that will manage the revolving CariFoodFund was established in 2026. According to the budget, different forms of loans are expected to begin being issued around the transition from 2026 to 2027.
The program forms part of a broader food-security strategy covering the six Caribbean islands.
In 2027, the Netherlands intends to invest in conditions necessary to expand local food production, including water management, availability of land, refrigerated storage and logistics.
Funding will also be directed toward education and training designed to encourage innovative and sustainable food-production methods.
The initiative could be particularly relevant for Curaçao, where limited rainfall, water costs, available agricultural land and dependence on imports have historically complicated efforts to expand domestic food production.
The Dutch budget, however, does not specify how much CariFoodFund financing will be reserved specifically for Curaçao.
The fund is intended to operate as a revolving financing mechanism rather than simply distributing one-time subsidies. Money repaid from financed projects could therefore potentially be reused for future investments.
The Dutch government is linking food security to a wider effort to increase economic development and self-reliance throughout the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.