As a small island heavily dependent on imports, our ability to feed ourselves is not guaranteed; it is shaped by forces both within and beyond our control. Food security in Bermuda is not a distant concern but a present vulnerability. And at its core lies something fundamental: the health of the natural systems that sustain us.

Every meal we eat is made possible by a delicate balance of our oceans, our soil, our pollinators, and our freshwater systems. When these systems are in balance, Bermuda thrives. When they are not, we become exposed to rising food costs, global supply chain disruptions and reduced access to fresh, nutritious food.

This is why Greenrock’s 2026 Earth Hour campaign focuses on a simple but urgent truth: protecting nature is essential to protecting our food supply.

Healthy oceans sustain our fisheries. Fertile soil supports local agriculture. Biodiversity enables pollination and crop growth. These are not abstract environmental concepts; they are the foundation of daily life in Bermuda. They determine what we eat, what we can grow and how resilient we are in the face of uncertainty.

Food security is one of the clearest ways to understand our connection to the natural world. When our ecosystems are protected, we strengthen our ability to provide for ourselves. We support local farmers and fishers, reduce our dependence on imports, and build a more stable and self-reliant economy.

But when these systems are neglected, the consequences are immediate and real.

Bermuda becomes more vulnerable. Costs rise. Access shrinks. Resilience weakens.

The path forward is not complicated but it does require intention.

Food security is shaped by the choices we make every day. Buying local produce, choosing sustainably caught fish, reducing food waste, composting, planting home gardens and supporting Bermudian farmers are not small actions. They are direct investments in the strength and stability of our island.

On Saturday, March 28, from 8.30 pm to 9.30pm, Bermuda will join millions around the world in observing Earth Hour by switching off our lights. This is more than a symbolic act. It is a shared moment to pause, reflect and recommit to protecting the systems that sustain life on our island.

We must protect our oceans, our soil, and our ecosystems.

We must strengthen our resilience through responsible stewardship.

We must act with the understanding that our future depends on the health of the natural world around us.

The future of food in Bermuda will not be decided by chance; it will be determined by the choices we make today.

Protect nature. Build resilience. Make our future food secure.

∙ Eugene Dean is the chairman of Greenrock