Stakeholders Urge Closer Agriculture-Tourism Partnership for Food Security, Economic Growth

Stakeholders at the World Agritourism Festival 2026 have called for strategic collaboration between the agriculture and tourism industries capable of reshaping food systems, boosting rural economies and reducing nations’ dependence on imports.

Themed “Agritourism Without Borders: Connecting Food, Culture and Global Prosperity,” participants from Nigeria, The Bahamas and other countries explored how the fusion of agriculture, tourism and culture can unlock new pathways to food security, job creation and sustainable development.

Leading the conversation, Group Managing Director of Xtralarge Farms and Resorts, Dr Moji Davids, urged governments, investors and development partners to urgently rethink agriculture beyond food production, stressing that its true value lies in its integration with tourism, culture and hospitality.

She stated that nations who fail to build strong agricultural systems linked to tourism risk remaining economically vulnerable and dependent on external supply chains.

“The time has come for nations to stop seeing agriculture as just farming. It must become a full economic ecosystem that drives tourism, culture, wellness and global competitiveness,” she said.

Warning that no country can claim true sovereignty while relying heavily on imports for food and essential commodities, global disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions affecting global trade routes, she said, exposed the fragility of over-dependent economies.

“You cannot claim sovereignty when your food systems are externally controlled. Every nation must take responsibility for its food future. We must build a future where agriculture is not just about survival, but about prosperity, identity and global connection,” she said.

Also speaking at the event, agritourism expert, Dr Jason Sands, shared The Bahamas’ experience, describing how the island nation is leveraging tourism growth to strengthen its agricultural base.

He explained that rising tourist inflows have created increased demand for locally sourced food, forcing greater collaboration between farmers, hotels and tourism operators.

He noted that “Agritourism connects agricultural production directly with tourism demand turning farms into economic and cultural destinations.”