In 2025, food security in the Cayman Islands shifted from long-term strategy to tangible action, as leadership changes, infrastructure investments and exposed vulnerability brought renewed urgency to how the country feeds itself in an increasingly volatile global environment.
That shift was reflected in early summer with the appointment of a new director of the Department of Agriculture, signalling an increased institutional focus on food security and sustainable agriculture, in keeping with the Cayman Islands Food and Nutrition Security Policy which was launched in 2022.
Wilbur Welcome, who took over from Brian Crichlow, outlined plans to empower local farmers, improve farming practices, strengthen traceability and address the islands’ heavy reliance on imported food products.
Over-dependence on US food imports
Roughly 80% of Cayman’s food imports originate from the United States, either arriving directly or moving through US ports as a transshipment point.
A mid-year Compass report on food imports found that Cayman is the fastest-growing market in the English-speaking Caribbean for US food imports, underscoring the scale of the challenge.
That dependence was underscored in 2025 with the imposition of tariffs under US President Donald Trump, prompting closer attention to alternative supply routes.
Since 2023, Jamaica has emerged as a growing source market of food for the Cayman Islands, and in September Seaboard Marine Ltd. launched a bi-weekly refrigerated consolidation service between Kingston and Grand Cayman.
Poultry and egg production ramp up
Egg production remained a central focus of food security efforts in 2025. In August, government opened its first publicly operated egg production facility, marking a significant step in efforts to increase domestic supply while providing a training and demonstration base for local poultry farmers.
The facility forms part of the broader National Egg Strategy or NEST, launched in 2023, which continued to expand through the year. The programme is designed to supplement at least 40% of egg imports by supporting commercial-scale production, establishing quality standards and improving market access for local producers.
By the end of 2025, the number of certified NEST farmers had grown to 17.
Momentum in the poultry sector continued in September with the arrival of Cayman’s first commercial chicken hatchery, producing both broilers and egg-laying hens and further strengthening local production capacity.
Progress threatened
H5N1 avian influenza was detected in late November in eight birds at a West Bay farm, triggering a rapid, multi-agency response that tested the resilience of Cayman’s growing poultry sector.
By early December, officials had linked the outbreak to migratory birds. Authorities moved quickly to contain the spread, temporarily banning the inter-island movement of live poultry and tightening biosecurity measures across the country, with particular attention on West Bay, where the regiment was activated to support the response.
By mid-month, government had approved an extra $500,000 towards these measures.
To date, no human cases have been recorded and no animals other than birds on one farm have been infected.
Other food security initiatives
Progress on local livestock and beef production drew attention mid-year with the expansion of a cattle breeding and genetic improvement initiative focused on Red Poll cattle. Originally imported from Jamaica in 2023, the Red Poll breed is ideally suited to Cayman’s climactic conditions. Cattle auctions and the birth of new baby calves formed part of a wider strategy to enhance local meat production and cut reliance on beef imports.
A smaller-scale Backyard Garden Programme pilot was launched in August to encourage household food production. The initiative supplied free inputs to participating households, reflecting a policy shift toward empowering residents at the grassroots level to contribute to their own food security.
Across the year, entrepreneurs underscored the nexus between culture and food security, with farmers, chefs and food producers highlighted in stories about expanding farm-to-table linkages and local food system support.
In the latter part of the year, high-profile advocacy helped raise public awareness of food security issues, with the announcement of a partnership between Miss Universe Cayman Islands titleholder Tahiti Moorea Seymour and the Department of Agriculture.
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