Central Bank of Barbados sponsors Sir Winston Scott Memorial Lecture on climate-driven food security shocks

The Central Bank of Barbados published a release summarising the 50th Sir Winston Scott Memorial Lecture, where Dr Agnes Kalibata warned that climate change is straining global food systems and that small island developing states such as Barbados need to prepare for resulting supply and price instability. Central Bank Governor Dr Kevin Greenidge linked food security and climate resilience to economic stability, noting that climate risks can quickly become financial risks affecting production, investment and long-term growth. Kalibata cited weather extremes disrupting harvests and increasing unpredictability in global food supply, with ripple effects for import-dependent countries that lack buffers. She argued that financing is key to making agriculture productive and attractive, including for younger people, and pointed to Barbados’ greenhouse investment, sugar-sweetened beverage tax, improvements in school meals and protection of agricultural land as notable policy decisions. In the post-lecture discussion, Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Nutritional Security Indar Weir outlined resilience initiatives including aquaponics, training of young farmers, greenhouses in schools and vertical farming systems developed with international partners, alongside calls for greater private-sector involvement and more value-added production.