We were privileged to be invited to attend this exhibition by the British High Commission in Jamaica Ms Avril Purcell Johnson whose enthusiasm and support was crucial to the success of our participation.
3 other companies were also with us on the British Stand
Omex
AFT Trenchers Uk
JCB
Leaving UKTAG to represent the UK genetics industry
The exhibition itself was relatively small with only 200 exhibitors however the audience was much bigger because of forums running concurrently with the event. These were attended by approximately 300 different business decision makers on each of three days. With the UK providing speakers.
The event was supported by the Jamaican Ministry of Agriculture and livestock development
During The event the British High Commission arranged high level meetings for me with Jamaican government representatives alongside their industry counterparts all of whom expressed a real desire to improve their genetics in both dairy and beef cattle as well as the pigs and want an alternative to USA genetics.
The country wants to improve the technology and management to maximise the use of enhanced genetics whilst improving the incomes of their family farms
They are looking for support and involvement from UK industry and are very much open for UK investors looking to invest in their farming industry
I met with the Dairy board who also cover their beef sector the Pig board along with commercial companies.
At this event we were able to distribute information from British companies unable to travel at short notice
During the exhibition Avril arranged for us to meet with the Hon Floyd Green Jamaican Minister of agriculture
He is very keen that their country improve their genetics and the technology management to make full use of the genetic potential of new animals
I raised the question of veterinary certification to allow breeders to export to his country
he agreed to prioritise negotiations with Defra and committed to there being no holdups from the Jamaican officials
He is very keen that we can export to his country
At the conclusion of the meeting, I asked him if he would visit the Royal 3 Counties show in June 2026, he said he would be very pleased to do
This invitation committed UK tag to organising a programme for him during his visit which would culminate in visit to the show
To make this work we will need the full support of both DBT and Defra
during the visit I was also able to meet with the senior managers of the Jamaican dairy board the pig industry
This scoping visit allowed us to understand that there are opportunities across the board for genetics, we have to manage expectations because we still have to get the veterinary protocols agreed
Agri technology much easier and they do need these protocols and the coutry is receptive of approaches
My understanding is that if we could start well in Jamaica then the other Caribbean countries will follow up
After the expo the organisers have been following up arranging b2b meetings with key stakeholders in their country
Finally I want to say that without the help and support of Avril this expo would not have been such a success As an industry we do need this support which is invaluable
