Information Use Behavior of Decision-Makers for Food Security in the English-Speaking Caribbean: A Study of Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, and Barbados

Abstract

Information required by food security decision-makers is multidisciplinary and must be timely and accurate. A survey conducted in three Caribbean countries determined that e-resources are highly important; print, frequently used; and e-mail, used daily. There is a distrust of social media, and problems accessing reliable, local, up-to-date information. Some interviewees (33.3%) evaluated online resources and 95.0% consider access to food and agricultural information professionals an asset. Though 84.3% rated themselves as competent or better at finding information, 89.3% would attend information literacy training. The results reveal the need for improved information management systems and understanding of the workplace information environment.