Sint Maarten Food Bank

With food insecurity expected to be among the major impacts of climate change on Small Island Developing States - UNDP is working in partnership with the Government of Sint Maarten to develop a sustainable food and agricultural sector aimed at reducing dependency on food imports and strengthening national food and nutrition security.

A robust agriculture sector that can support year-round national food and nutrition needs is more crucial than ever for small island nations, like Sint Maarten, whose size and single pillar tourism based economy leaves it more vulnerable to global shocks like climate change and the Covid-19 Pandemic.

The multi-year project will assess the gaps, priorities and risks related to food security in Stint Maarten, support the establishment of a National Food Bank and a food supply chain system, and develop a road map for a national policy on agriculture.

Recognizing that a wide-range of interests will need to be considered in advancing the plan, the project will seek to dialogue with a number of stakeholders including farmers and fisherfolk, market vendors, food manufacturers, processors, wholesalers and distributors, the Supermarket and the Restaurant Associations, the hospitality sector, NGOs, faith-based organizations and community groups.

About Caribbean SIDS

The projected consequences of climate change for the Caribbean—higher temperatures, declining precipitation, rising sea levels and potentially adverse changes in the patterns of extreme weather events—have strong implications for long-term development in the region, with the most vulnerable sectors including tourism, agriculture (and food security), human settlements and economic infrastructure. Other important overlapping sectors include human health, biodiversity and fisheries.