Why is agriculture a small part of Bermuda’s economy?

Agriculture plays a negligible role in Bermuda’s economy primarily because the territory’s financial structure is overwhelmingly dominated by tourism and international financial services. These two sectors account for the major share of the gross national product and employ virtually the entire workforce.1

Because the local economy is focused on these high-value service industries, Bermuda does not prioritize large-scale agricultural production. Consequently, the islands must import the vast majority of their food supply. While the land features a shallow layer of fertile soil, the islands lack lakes or rivers, and the reliance on rainfall for water—combined with the economic shift toward offshore finance and tourism—makes large-scale farming impractical. Local agricultural efforts remain limited to small-scale production of items such as fresh vegetables, bananas, citrus fruits, milk, eggs, and honey.12