On January 28, 2026, Dr. Dale Rankine (Department of Physics) hosted a Climate Extremes Workshop under the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)–funded project, Development of Baseline Climate Impact Assessments for Development of Transformational Agrifood Systems Programmes in the Caribbean Small Island Developing States.

The project is being led by the Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Life Sciences at The University of the West Indies, Mona and forms part of broader regional efforts to strengthen agrifood systems across the Caribbean.

The workshop brought together key national stakeholders, including representatives from the Climate Studies Group Mona, the Jamaica Meteorological Service, and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, who served as presenters. Participants also included a wide cross-section of stakeholders from academia, government agencies, and the agricultural sector.

Discussions focused on understanding climate extremes and their impact on Jamaica, particularly in light of the country’s recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa. The workshop provided a platform for sharing data, identifying vulnerabilities, and exploring practical strategies to strengthen resilience—especially within the agricultural sector, which remains highly sensitive to climate shocks.

Photo caption: Participants at the Climate Extremes Workshopheld on January 28, 2026.