EU, Wageningen University explore deeper agriculture partnership with Guyana

Guyana’s push to become a regional food powerhouse received a boost this week as senior European Union officials and experts from Wageningen University & Research (WUR) conducted a visit focused on agriculture, innovation and climate-smart food systems.

The visit follows last year’s EU-funded business mission that took Guyanese companies and institutions to Europe.

“This is about follow-up,” said EU Ambassador Luca Pierantoni, Head of the EU Delegation to Guyana. “Conversations that started in Europe are now turning into concrete cooperation.”

Pierantoni said the November mission revealed strong appetite on both sides prompting plans for up to three new EU-Guyana business missions between 2025 and 2026.

“We realised there is more potential,” he said. “Agriculture, education, technology… these are natural entry points.”

He stressed that the EU is working closely with Guyana’s private sector, Go-Invest, government agencies and civil society to ensure partnerships are practical and long-lasting.

For Joan Nadal Sastre, First Counsellor and Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation, agriculture was an obvious choice.

“This falls squarely under the EU’s Global Gateway,” he said. “The private sector is at the heart of what we do.”

Agriculture, he noted, is both a national priority and a regional opportunity.

“Guyana has made it clear — food security, agro-processing and value-added production matter,” Nadal Sastre said.

Representing Wageningen University & Research, Ria Hulsman said the Guyanese delegation’s earlier visit to the Netherlands left a strong impression.

“We were impressed by what Guyana is already doing,” she said. “Especially youth involvement, agro-processing and fresh food production.”

During their week-long visit, the WUR team met with NARI, the Guyana School of Agriculture, the University of Guyana, the Food Safety Authority and private sector stakeholders.

“There is a strong willingness here to push agriculture forward,” Hulsman said. “And that matters.”

For Jouke Campen, international project manager at WUR, Guyana’s existing knowledge base stood out.

“The Guyana School of Agriculture is impressive,” he said. “Young people are being actively encouraged into farming… that’s not something you see everywhere.”

Still, challenges remain.

“There’s huge potential,” Campen said. “Climate, rain, pests — yes, those are challenges. But with protected agriculture and better systems, production here can be tremendous.”

Asked what progress should look like in two years, Hulsman was clear.

“I want to see Guyanese youth with higher technical skills,” she said. “Food safety, technology, standards… that’s how you unlock exports.”

Pierantoni agreed, pointing to existing trade agreements.

“Tariff-free access already exists,” he said. “The real work now is standards, quality and compliance.”