Strategy For Agriculturalresearciidevelopment In Jamaica And The Caribbean For 2000 And Beyond

This paper identifies, discusses and proposes a strategy to be employed by Caribbean countries as they retool their agricultural sector to deal with the competitive challenges offered by the new international trading regime. In presenting their thesis, the authors argue that Caribbean countries, as a matter ofurgency, should undertake to acquire the technological capability that will allow them to compete effectively in the new deregulated market place. In this new market environment, countries must devise and put in place procedures which are transparent and scientifically verifiable in order to meet the international standards for food safety. quality and environmental conservation promulgated in a series ofprotocols such as Codcx Alimentarius, ISO-9000, ISO-l400 and HACCP. The authors stress the value ofinterdisciplinary applied research as a viable strategy and propose a new institutional approach - a Caribbean Centre for Applied Biosystems Research - which would develop a market-driven agricultural technology system for the region. The centre will bring together a network ofthree USA universities, Caribbean business interests, research and academic institutions to work collaboratively in developing an international obligations. The centre will facilitate sustainable development of the. region's natural resource endowment through the application of information and biotechnologies, mobilize the creative forces iri the region, create technologies for producing and maintaining a competitive portfolio of products and services, and develop and maintain partnerships with international agencies having similar goals.