The Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) is a Regional Institution established pursuant to the Articles of the Agreement, signed in Georgetown, Guyana on 5th December 1974 by the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Having its Headquarters in Trinidad and Tobago with representation in fourteen (14) CARICOM Member Countries, the Institute, serves a collective population of just over 6.4 million people. Pursuant to the Articles of the Agreement, the Institute receives policy direction from its Governing Body comprising the Standing Committee of Ministers responsible for Agriculture from each Member Country. It is also comprised of a Board of Directors which includes a representative of each Member Country, the CARICOM Secretariat, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the University of the West Indies (UWI), the University of Guyana, the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Executive Director (ex officio). As CARDI celebrates its 50th Anniversary, it is recognised as the foremost organisation dedicated to conducting and coordinating research and development aimed at improving the competitiveness and sustainability of the regional agricultural sector.

CARDI’s original mandate is to provide for the research and development needs of the region’s agriculture sector as identified in national plans and policies. While delivering on this mandate, CARDI’s agenda continues to evolve to ensure that the Institution remains responsive to ongoing and emerging challenges impacting the sector. In the last few years, these have included, among other areas, – climate change and environmental sustainability, chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs), and the adoption of information and communication technologies. CARDI also prioritises youth, rural women and girls in its initiatives.

Through collaboration for innovation, CARDI contributes to the growth and sustainable development of agriculture in the region. The institute coordinates with its partners in identifying regional agricultural gaps and highlights opportunities for sector improvement in terms of food security, agricultural productivity and expanding agribusiness. More than a knowledge broker, CARDI generates and shares relevant and timely information and facilitates the harmonisation of efforts among Member States to avoid duplication. All of its research programmes are structured within an evidence-based framework. While the Institution’s work focuses on the commodities identified by CARICOM as economically important to the region, it is not limited to them. CARDI adopts a flexible approach and is agile in its response towards the ever-changing dynamics and demands of the region’s agricultural sector. For fifty (50) years, the Institute has undertaken many initiatives. Some of the most impactful among them, continue to be relevant to the region’s sustainability agenda.

Head Office: University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad & Tobago