Caribbean Agrifood Business Session n°4

Ensuring food quality and safety in the Caribbean: the key role of SMEs and businesses

MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) play a key role in improving quality and availability of local food, and ensuring high safety and quality standards. MSMEs and businesses will have to ensure that such protocols are also applied by their suppliers, service providers and partners that it brings trust across the value chain. Traceability systems will also be more important for consumers, much more interested by healthy choices.

MSMEs can improve their revenue-earning potential by adopting suitable food safety systems and promoting consumer acceptance of their products. They can improve market access and participation of small agrifood companies by making use of a key element for food companies: develop and implement a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan.

Small Agrifood business need to know and apply the principles of food safety, identification of types of hazards and their effects on food, as well as suitable control methods for common food hazards.

It is key to formulate, improve and apply policies based on Agricultural Health and Food Safety (AHFS). Of critical importance are the harmonization of standards to increase regional trade and an increased implementation of standards.

An effective and efficient AHFS system is dependent on having well-trained technical personnel that is supported by strong infrastructural capacity. Seven areas have been identified by IICA under the 10^th EDF SPS Measures Project as critical for implementing an effective SPS regime. They are: (i) surveillance and monitoring; (ii) diagnostic and testing capability; (iii) risk analysis; (iv) emergency response preparedness and capability; (v) inspection and certification; (vi) quarantine; and (vii) public awareness/public education.

Governments will need to step in to increase financial support, laboratory access and technical assistance, and promote public-private partnerships and cluster collaboration.

Sharing widely best practices and increasing online presence will be particularly useful for businesses to regain confidence. In an increased online communication, it is critical to be visible and transparent in the offerings.