WILLEMSTAD – Aruba would need nearly four times its entire land area to become fully food self-sufficient, according to a new study that illustrates the enormous challenges facing Caribbean islands seeking greater food independence.
The research, which examined local food production across the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom, modeled scenarios in which islands would attempt to produce all of their own food locally.
The results revealed staggering land requirements.
For Aruba, achieving complete food self-sufficiency would require nearly 690 square kilometers of agricultural land. The island itself covers only about 180 square kilometers.
Researchers found that livestock production would account for most of the required space. Beef production alone would require more than 623 square kilometers of land, far exceeding the island's available territory.
Bonaire faces similar constraints. The report estimates that full food self-sufficiency would require nearly 99 square kilometers of agricultural land, equivalent to more than one-third of the island's total area. Meat and dairy production were identified as the largest consumers of land resources.
The findings are shifting the food security debate across the region.
Rather than focusing on complete self-sufficiency, researchers suggest islands should prioritize products that can be produced efficiently under local conditions.
Vegetables, leafy greens, eggs, and certain forms of fisheries offer the greatest opportunities for expanding local production, while meat and dairy products quickly encounter land and resource limitations.
The study also explains why islands have developed different agricultural profiles.
Aruba has increasingly focused on specialized production such as mushrooms and hydroponically grown leafy vegetables. Bonaire has achieved relatively strong local production in categories such as lettuce, leafy greens, and eggs despite having a small number of producers.
Curaçao, meanwhile, has the broadest agricultural profile among the islands due to its larger scale, stronger infrastructure, and larger domestic market. Nevertheless, the report notes that Curaçao still imports more than 91 percent of its food.
Researchers conclude that complete food sovereignty is not realistic for the islands. However, local agriculture can still provide an important buffer against supply chain disruptions and help stabilize food supplies during emergencies.
That role may become increasingly important. According to the study, the islands maintain only a limited number of days' worth of food reserves should imports suddenly stop, making local food production a critical component of long-term resilience even if it can never fully replace imported goods.