13/05/2026
The EU-funded EUCAN project, implemented by FIAP and CPVA, supports six Eastern Caribbean countries in strengthening food security through the use of satellite data and advanced agricultural statistics
The availability of reliable and timely data remains one of the main challenges for agricultural decision-making in the Eastern Caribbean. To address this issue, a series of regional webinars brought together representatives from Ministries of Agriculture and National Statistical Offices to advance stronger food security monitoring systems.
Under the title “Agricultural Statistics and Earth Observation for Evidence-Based Decision-Making”, the initiative highlighted the potential of Earth Observation (EO) as a key tool to transform how agricultural data are collected and used. Compared to traditional methods — often constrained by high costs, limited technical capacities, or fragmented sampling frameworks — satellite data can improve crop mapping, monitor agricultural seasons in real time, and more accurately detect crop stress or the impact of natural hazards.
The webinar series, held on 17, 24, and 31 March, was organised within the framework of the EUCAN: Nourishing the Future Together project, funded by the European Union and implemented by the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIAP), in collaboration with the OECS Commission, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), and the Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) in Belgium.
Targeted at technical staff from six priority countries in the region, the sessions combined knowledge sharing with practical learning. Among other topics, participants were introduced to the Spanish agricultural statistics system as a reference for early estimations, as well as innovative tools such as Sen4Stat, developed by UCLouvain, which integrates Earth Observation data into agricultural statistical systems.
The final session consolidated the key lessons learned and explored possible pathways for national-level implementation. This approach, combining international expertise with local needs, lays the foundation for more efficient, resilient, and evidence-based agriculture in the Eastern Caribbean.
Through initiatives like this, the EUCAN project reinforces Team Europe’s commitment to sustainable development by promoting innovative solutions that directly contribute to food security and the strengthening of public policies across the region.
