Starches to boost food security and economic growth

Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister, Senator Aubyn Hill, is highlighting the local starch industry as a major sector for investment to boost food security and economic prosperity.

He noted that the sector has significant potential for commercial activities to serve local and export markets.

Investing in the cultivation of produce such as sweet potato, cassava and breadfruit can empower small farmers, boost agricultural output, and strengthen rural economies, he said.

The Minister was addressing the opening of the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) two-day Starch Stakeholders’ Symposium at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Regional Headquarters on September 19.

The two-day event, under the theme ‘Starch Fueling Global Impact: From Farm to Function’, seeks to raise awareness about the potential of Jamaica’s starch industry.

The industry’s significant role in addressing poverty alleviation, food security, nutrition, promoting trade and investment, and facilitating economic growth was highlighted.

Miniter Hill commended the BSJ for continuing to be at the forefront of advancing the starch industry “and for partnering with both academia and the manufacturing industry, which play critical roles in the sector”.

“When we come together – the government, private sector and agriculture stakeholders – we demonstrate our shared commitment to advancing Jamaica’s agricultural value chain,” he said.

In his remarks, Executive Director of the BSJ, Dr. Velton Gooden, said the session seeks to not only highlight the commercial benefits of starches but also the importance of the produce in ensuring a nutritious, well-balanced diet.

The symposium features presentations from business operators and academia exploring various topics concerning the varied uses and benefits of starch.

Among the objectives of the two-day session are to promote increased agricultural output of starches, highlight the financial benefits of starch as a value-added product and the creation of jobs from farm to the end product, promote the use of starches as substitutes for gluten products, increase the utilisation of locally produced starches to reduce import costs, and boost the export of starches resulting in increased gross domestic product (GDP) for the country.