NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Some 30 food safety stakeholders gathered this week at the National Training Agency to validate the findings of a 12-month project to develop a strategic plan to improve food control systems in The Bahamas.
The project funded by FAO titled, “Assessing National Food Control Systems to Enable Food Safety in the Sub-region,” saw a team of FAO technical experts work with experts and leading institutions in the past year to enhance capabilities, strengthen governance and increase opportunities for locally grown food within global markets.
The project was co-signed by the Government of the Bahamas and the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA) to improve the capacities of food safety management towards better health and to support the country’s food export markets. The Bahamas is the first country in the Caribbean region to have conducted the assessment
The institutions included the Bahamas Agricultural Health and Food Safety Authority (BAHFSA), the Bahamas Agricultural Industrial Corporation (BAIC), and The Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) (check) gathered data to further develop institutional frameworks, analytical resources, safety regulations among other components of the national system.
During the three-day workshop, which began on January 31, the team of FAO experts met with the senior management and officials to develop recommendations based on the findings of the final assessment report.
The report was the culmination of a process that began with training in January 2021 and continued with the collection and revision of data gathered from the various institutions.
FAO introduced to The Bahamas, the FAO/WHO Food Control System Assessment Tool – a unique instrument designed to comprehensively assess the national food control system by looking at the entire food chain, including production, distribution, the retail market, and the consumers.
Using a multi-stakeholder approach, the FAO worked closely with officials for food safety and provided technical support to conduct the assessment, following the tool’s guidelines and procedures. The strong collaboration across the country’s institutions ensured that the project activities were tailored specifically to The Bahamas.
The project complements other ongoing activities in the Caribbean meant to strengthen value chains, increase production and resilience, and empower women in food systems towards improved nutrition and increased access to markets.
In his remarks, FAO Representative for Bahamas Dr Crispim Moreira, commended the 11-month effort of the stakeholders in reviewing the national food control system. “Your active and continued participation signals that the Bahamas is making space to create strategies that center food production and distribution within the context of a changing era”.
Against the backdrop of the recently released UN report on Food & Nutrition Security in Latin America and the Caribbean, Dr. Moreira urged the need for measures that ensure greater protection within the food supply chain.
“Given the findings of the FAO’s 2022 Panorama on food and nutrition security, the region cannot afford to be set back by further disruptions within the agriculture value chain. The challenges we face today not only compel us to increase the scale and volume at which we produce food but also improve how food is stored, transported, and marketed,” he said.
Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources, and Family Island Affairs Hon. Clay Sweeting thanked all stakeholders involved with the project.
“The application of the food control assessment tool, developed by the FAO and WHO, has allowed us to assess the overall capacities of the national food control system in a comprehensive and measurable way. By evaluating the adequacy of the resources, and the relevance of the controls and surveillance systems in place, we are now aware of our position, to identify and prioritize areas for improvement and target investments,” he said.
“As my Ministry works towards fulfilling the Government’s mandate to build the capacities of agribusinesses and producers to access new markets domestically and internationally, it is crucial that our food controls meet agreed international standards, operate in transparency and accountability to effectively improve safe trade and export.”
Following stakeholder discussions and deliberations, senior officials identified several priority areas to improve food control measures. These priorities were tabled along with an implementation plan to support a strengthened food control system and enhance institutional progress around food safety.
The participants expressed their satisfaction with the assessment process and reiterated their commitment to ensure that the work done will further advance the food supply and distribution chain.
