Food Access in the Caribbean

This chapter gives an overview of the status of food access in the Caribbean mainly from the perspectives of poverty, unemployment and food affordability in the Caribbean. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted declining global poverty trends, leading to a rise in extreme poverty rates worldwide. Latin America and the Caribbean, despite minor improvements, continue to grapple with elevated poverty rates exacerbated by political instability and external conflicts, with Haiti facing particular challenges. In the Caribbean, poverty rates vary significantly among countries, with implications for urban–rural divides and household sizes. Children and adolescents bear a disproportionate burden of poverty. Unemployment rates, especially among women and youth, have soared due to pandemic-induced disruptions, notably in the tourism sector. Predictions are, however, for increased employment as the tourism sector reopens post-COVID-19. With respect to Food affordability the Caribbean has the highest cost of a healthy diet in the world, at USD 4.23, compared to the average cost of USD 3.54 globally and USD 3.89 for the Latin America and Caribbean region. Just over half of the Caribbean population (52%) cannot afford a healthy diet. To improve food access, countries have implemented social protection programs for vulnerable communities, including cash transfer and food assistance programs. Policies should also focus on poverty reduction, income generation (especially in rural areas), making local healthy foods more affordable and providing nutrition education. School feeding programs are highlighted as important for ensuring healthy nutrition, particularly for poor rural families.