CONSIDERED global hunger eliminators and potential promoters of global food security, corn and soya bean have been getting a lot of attention in Guyana since the birth of CARICOM’s ‘25 by 2025’ initiative.

Designed as a long term social and economic partnership between member states, regional private sector bodies, civil society and other groupings to reduce the region’s food import bill by 25 per cent, this ambitious venture has listed these crops as two of the commodities to be targeted for increased production.

From all indications, Guyana has gotten the most success with the cultivation of corn and soya bean thus far. In 2023, four major private producers were able to cultivate approximately 10,000 acres and this year, three more will together expand cultivation to 26,000 acres.

This good news has been complemented by the recent announcements that 3, 000 acres of land are currently being prepared for cultivation in Guyana’s savannahs and $967.8 million has been set aside in this year’s budget for the boosting of the capacity of the Tacama Savannah corn and soya bean facility and the completion of an access wharf.

So far, the Guyana Government has spent more than $1.4 billion to develop the infrastructure within the Tacama area to move a few steps closer to the regional goal of being self-sufficient in the production of all livestock feed.

Given the interest and the amount of resources being expended, Guyanese officials are confident that production would reach 30,000 acres by the end of 2025.

Corn and soya bean have a wide range of health/nutritional benefits for both humans and livestock, are used in food production and have a number of industrial uses.

These super crops are ideal for food security and nutritional security in any nation and can be used as an alternative source of nutrition to feed the rising global population.

These crops are planted by the hundreds of hectares in some countries. Guyana’s neighbour Brazil is the world’s largest cultivator of soybeans and is closely followed by the United States of America (USA).

This high-quality protein crop is in almost every kind of food produce we use and consume and the demand on the foreign market has contributed to the increase in Brazil’s production over the years. Argentina, China, India and Paraguay are among the top soybean producing nations.

While the amount that Guyana produces is just a tiny fraction of what the above-mentioned countries cultivate, Guyanese and all CARICOM nationals should be beaming with pride. Guyana is showing the world that it has the potential to contribute to global food security and is serious about bringing down CARICOM’s annual food import bill.

The USA is the world’s top corn grower followed by China, Brazil and the European Union (EU).

The highest percentage of soybeans goes to the animal feed industry. From it, soy milk, soy flour, tofu and soy sauce are also produced and it’s the main feedstock for biodiesel production.
Soybean is also an ingredient used in the making of cheese, spreads, paints, fertilisers, adhesives and fire extinguisher fluids.

Similarly, corn is used in the production of many products such as ethanol, high fructose corn syrup, cereals such as cornflakes, sweeteners, starch, for beverage/alcohol production, oil, livestock feed and biofuel. Many of the mentioned products are manufactured right here in Guyana and eventually farmers, manufactures and consumers will reap the benefits.

In addition to the expansion of agriculture sector which now includes the cultivation of non-traditional crops and the rearing of high-quality livestock, Guyana deserves a lengthy round of applause for its dedication to the cultivation of corn and soya bean.

It is clear that the successes gained so far will be replicated a hundred times over well beyond 2025.