Guyana’s agriculture sector is estimated to contribute approximately 23.2% to non-oil GDP, down slightly from a 25% share in 2022. While agriculture remains a key engine of economic diversification and food security, the sector is undergoing an important shift toward value-added production and technological modernization. Investment priorities include scaling up corn and soybean production, strengthening poultry, beef, and shrimp/aquaculture output, and expanding production of specialty crops such as coffee, cocoa, spices, coconuts, and beans. Significant allocations in the 2025 budget—over USD 500 million—also target agriculture processing infrastructure (e.g., silos, abattoirs, food labs), precision agriculture (drones, animal genetics), and cold chain logistics. Guyana’s favorable climatic profile, combined with tax incentives and access to U.S. and CARICOM markets, positions the country as an attractive export destination for U.S. specialty suppliers across the agriculture value chain—particularly in feed crops, livestock, aquaculture, ag-tech, and niche tropical commodities.
Sub-sector Best prospects
Aquaculture
Guyana has attractive conditions for a dynamic seafood and fisheries industry. These include a long Atlantic coastal area and an extensive network of rivers. The United States is the primary market for most seafood exports. Guyana enjoys vast fishery resources in the Atlantic Ocean, both in its coastal areas and its Exclusive Economic Zone, an area equivalent to 64 percent of the country’s landmass. This area contains highly productive marine fisheries, producing prawns, shrimp, and a variety of commercial fish. On shore, the GoG is exploring the potential to integrate fish farming with rice production. Through the Ministry of Agriculture, Guyana is exploring production of Tambaqui, Red, and Nile Tilapia to export within the Caribbean market.
Livestock Development
The GoG is courting investments in the production of meat (beef and lamb), poultry products, milk, and dairy products for both domestic consumption and export to the Caribbean. Guyana’s savannahs provide a favorable environment for cattle grazing, however, there are challenges with cattle rustling, poor transportation infrastructure, and limited processing facilities. Guyana is, as of the date of this report, certified as free of foot-and-mouth disease, reducing the barrier to access for many markets. Additionally, the GoG seeks PPPs to develop dairy processing facilities and modern slaughterhouses. Private sector investment in the dairy sector is already underway. Beginning in 2026, one company is scheduled to import 500 head of dairy cattle from the United States to begin large scale commercial production of milk, a first for Guyana. Opportunities exist for development of supply chain services for the dairy industry such as transport, processing, packaging, and storage. Cold chain management is in its infancy in Guyana. U.S. firms can offer to provide select breeding stock and artificial insemination services for Guyana’s goal to improve herd genetics.
Large Scale Commercial Cultivation of Horticultural Crops, Fruits, and Vegetables
Guyana offers a favorable climate to produce oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, limes, mangoes, Manilkara, zapota, papayas, pineapples, and passion fruit. Due to a lack of infrastructure and limited cold chain, exporters must be able to establish modern post-harvest handling, good food safety standards, and quality check systems to prevent spoilage in transit and meet international phytosanitary controls. Additional value can be achieved by shipping selected fruits to destination markets by air, ensuring maximum freshness. The GoG has designated large tracts of land free of agricultural chemicals, providing a unique opportunity to meet a growing demand for organic products in North America and Europe, though organic certification would need to be obtained. Organic cocoa, pineapple, and heart of palm are already being grown for export and can be scaled up to increase capacity, though product consistency will require specific investments. Opportunities exist to certify organic food and improve food safety standards. Guyana’s ability to supply international markets is currently hampered by the time required to transport its products to market.
Value-Added Processing
Guyana has an abundance of fruits and vegetables that do not make it to market due to a challenging supply chain logistics and limited value-added processing such as canning or drying fruits, which can prolong shelf life. As Guyana’s energy costs decrease and value-added industries become more economically feasible, companies may explore opportunities to market Guyana’s abundant and high-quality produce to international markets.
Consumer-Oriented Food Products
While Guyana is poised to develop its farm and agriculture processing sectors, the rapid expansion of the economy, including its retail food and hotel-restaurant-institutional sectors, means demand for quality food and beverage products will outweigh local production for the foreseeable future. Consequently, there are opportunities to supply the market with a wide range of food products for retail and foodservice outlets.