Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

Rural youth

IICA, CFL, SLAFY and MOA Support Phase 5 Helping Out Our Primary and Secondary Schools (HOOPSS)

Tiempo de lectura: 3 mins.

The HOOPSS Project was recognized by the Minister of Agriculture and contributing partners as an important contributor to improved food and nutrition security.

Representatives of CFL and partners presenting Cheque for
Phase 5 to SLAFY

The IICA Delegation in Saint Lucia, in collaboration with Consolidated Foods Limited (CFL), the Saint Lucia Agricultural Forum for Youth (SLAFY) and the Ministry of Agriculture,  Food Production, Fisheries,  Cooperatives and Rural Development (MAFPFCRD) agreed to implement a fifth phase of the Helping Out Our Primary and Secondary Schools (HOOPSS) Project in 2015 with financial support from CFL.  The HOOPSS Project was initiated in 2009.

HOOPSS Phase 5 is supporting 19 primary and secondary schools in developing self-sustaining farms, engaging students on the merits of agriculture as a viable career, enhancing their local school feeding programmes and agricultural science curriculum, as well as strengthening market linkages between schools and CFL.

These targets have been achieved by improving on existing school farms while expanding the scope of school farm programmes to new areas t such as rearing poultry, rabbits and fresh-water fish (aquaculture); as well as greenhouse technology. Doing so has been beneficial to broadening the knowledge base of students and teachers, alike.  Under Phase 5, HOOPSS benefited from the support of the Tele-Gathering Group through Jameson Alphonse (SLAFY Vice President) and LIME Saint Lucia to give support to the urban, pallet garden of the Marchand Primary School, as well as support to the greenhouse of the Marigot Secondary School.  

At the launch of Phase 5, The HOOPSS Project  was been recognized by the Minister of Agriculture and contributing partners as an important contributor to improved food and nutrition security by strengthening school feeding systems and agricultural development by adding value to the engagement of youth on agriculture.

For more information contact: Brent Theophile (brent.theopile@iica.int)

 

Share

Related news​

San José Costa Rica

August 29, 2025

IICA launches “Agricultural Digitalization in Action”, a new line of work aimed at spotlighting real experiences with digital transformation

Through the digital platform, IICA will provide public access to reports and podcasts with a view to encouraging producers, technical specialists, institutions and companies to take the next steps towards digitalization.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

San José, Costa Rica

August 28, 2025

More than 540 Latin American and Caribbean companies negotiated USD 20 million in tentative business deals at a virtual agrifood trade event

The event was jointly organized by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Executive Secretariat of the Central American Agricultural Council (SECAC) and the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA), which have been spearheading these types of meetings since 2020, in a bid to bolster regional agrifood trade.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

Rosario, Argentina

August 28, 2025

IICA and the Pan American Liquid Biofuels Coalition undertake commitments to develop sustainable aviation fuels in the Americas

A declaration by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) on the development and promotion of sustainable aviation fuels in the Americas was presented during the Pan American Liquid Biofuels Summit in Rosario, Argentina.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins