THE LITTLE-STUDIED SUCCESS STORY OF POST-CRISIS FOOD SECURITY IN CUBA: DOES LACK OF INTERNATIONAL INTEREST SIGNIFY LACK OF POLITICAL WILL?

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International Journal of Cuban Studies

Volume 4, Issue 2

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THE LITTLE-STUDIED SUCCESS STORY OF POST-CRISIS FOOD SECURITY IN CUBA: DOES LACK OF INTERNATIONAL INTEREST SIGNIFY LACK OF POLITICAL WILL?

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Author(s): Julia Wright

Publication date (Print): 1 July 2012

Journal: International Journal of Cuban Studies

Publisher: Pluto Journals

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Abstract

In the early 1990s, industrialised Cuba was plunged into crisis as it lost its major source of food, fuel and agricultural input supplies with the demise of the Soviet bloc. Within a decade, the country had recovered sufficiently to double agricultural production, increase calorific availability by 25 per cent, and maintain a consistent and equitable social food programme. Given the continued shortfall of petroleum imports into the country, this was a major achievement, yet it is little studied or used as a learning example for other nations struggling with food insecurity. This article presents the results of a unique study into Cuban agriculture and its food system at the end of the 1990s, identifying the main mechanisms implemented by Cuba to regain its food security status. It argues that the lack of interest in the Cuban experience by the international community indicates that political bias may be causing us to ignore lessons that could contribute to achieving food security in other countries.

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Journal

Journal ID (jstor): intejcubastud

Journal ID (doi): 10.2307/j50005551

Title: International Journal of Cuban Studies

Publisher: Pluto Journals

ISSN (Print): 17563461

Publication date (Print): 1 July 2012

Volume: 4

Issue: 2

Pages: 130-153

Article

DOI: 10.2307/41945973

SO-VID: 4b572590-7c25-41c9-9739-4d4410d506e8

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All content is freely available without charge to users or their institutions. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission of the publisher or the author. Articles published in the journal are distributed under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

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References

Baker, B. (2001) The Truth About Food. Bristol: The Soil Association.
Benson, T. (2004) 'Africa's Food and Nutrition Security Situation. Where are we and how did we get here?' 2020 Discussion Paper No. 37. IFPRI, Washington DC.
Buys, J. (1993) 'Conversion Toward Organic Agriculture in Russia: A Preliminary Study', Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 10(2): 141-54.
Carney, J. (ed.) (1993) 'Low-Input Sustainable Agriculture in Cuba', Agriculture and Human Values 10(3), Summer.
Castro, F. (1996) Address to the World Food Summit, 18 November 1996, Rome.
Deere, C.D. (1996) 'The Evolution of Cuba's Agricultural Sector: Debates, Controversies and Research Issues', International Working Paper Series IW96-3. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Food and Resource Economics Department, Gainesville.
Deere, C.D. (1997) 'Reforming Cuban Agriculture', Development and Change 28: 649-69.
Deere, C.D., N. Perez and E. Gonzales (1994) 'The View from Below: Cuban Agriculture in the "Special Period in Peacetime"', Journal of Peasant Studies 21(2), January 1994: 194-234.
DFID (2004) 'Agriculture, Hunger and Food Security', Working Paper 7. DFID/RNRA Team Working Paper. Department for International Development, London.
DFID (2005) 'Productivity Growth for Poverty Reduction: An Approach to Agriculture', Policy Paper. DFID, London.
Dieksmeirs, G. (1995) 'Plaguicidas Residuos: efectos y presencia en el medioambiente', Unpublished doctoral thesis, INHA, Havana.
Enríquez, L.J. (1994) 'The Question of Food Security in Cuban Socialism'. Monograph. University of California, Berkeley.
Enriquez, L.J. (2000) 'Cuba's New Agricultural Revolution: The Transformation of Food Crop Production in Contemporary Cuba', Development Report No. 14. Dept. Sociology, University of California.
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) (1998) 'Evaluating the Potential of Organic Agriculture to Sustainability Goals', FAO Technical Contribution to IFOAM's Scientific Conference, Mar del Plata, Argentina.
FAO (2001) 'Ethical Issues in Food and Agriculture', FAO Ethics Series, Rome.
FAO (2002) 'The Nutrition Transition and Obesity - The Developing World's New Burden: Obesit', Focus, January. FAO, Rome.
FAO (2004) 'Food and Agriculture Indicators Cuba', http://www.fao.org/countryprofiles
Felipe, E. (1995) 'Apuntes sobre el desarrollo social en Cuba', Boletin informativo, CIEM No. 20. Marzo-Abril: 3-16.
Garfield, R. (1999) 'The Impact of Economic Sanctions on Health and Wellbeing', Relief and Rehabilitation Network, Network Paper 31, ODI, London.
Goodman, D. and M. Redclift (1991) Refashioning Nature: Food, Ecology and Culture. London: Routledge.
Hamilton, H. (2003) 'A Different Kind of Green Revolution in Cuba', Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy, Oakland, California.
IAC (2003) 'IAC Study on Science and Technology Strategies for Improving Agricultural Productivity and Food Security in Africa', Progress Report, May. InterAcademy Council Study Panel.
IICS (2008) 'Cuba Reforms Summary 2008', Press release. International Institute for Cuban Studies, London Metropolitan University.
Lane, P. (1997) 'El Modelo Cubano de Desarrollo Sostenible. Seminario Internacional Medio Ambiente y Sociedad'. Havana.
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Moskow, A. (1999) 'Havana's Self-Provision Gardens', Environment and Urbanisation 11(2): 127-32.
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PNAN (1994) Statistics. Pan American Health Organisation, http://www.paho.org
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Rodríguez, S. (1998) 'La Comercialización de la Producción Agrícola. La transformacio- nes de la agricultura cubana a partir de 1993', Proyecto de Investigación H/71/972. Capitulo V.
Rosset, P. (2000) 'Cuba: Successful Case Study of Sustainable Agriculture', in F. Magdoff, J.B. Foster and F.H. Buttel (eds) Hungry for Profit: The Agribusiness Threat to Farmers, Food and the Environment (pp. 203-13). New York: Monthly Review Press.
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Rosset, R and S. Cunningham (1994) The Greening of Cuba: Organic Farming Offers Hope in the Midst of Crisis. San Francisco: IFDR
Rosset, P. and M. Moore (1997) 'Food Security and Local Production of Biopesticides in Cuba', LEIS A Magazine 13(4), December: 18-19.
Ritchie, H. (1998) 'A Revolution in Urban Agriculture', Soils and Health 57(3).
SED AGRI (1998) 'Actualidades de la Agricultura', Boletin 0/98, Agencia de Información Para la Agricultura (AGROINFOR), Ciudad de la Habana.
Sinclair, M. and M. Thompson (2001) Cuba Going Against the Grain: Agricultural Crisis and Transformation. Oxfam America.
Snyder, B. (2003) 'Cuba: A Clue to Our Future?' Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy, Oakland, California.
Socorro, M., L. Alemán and S. Sánchez (2002) '"Cultivo Popular": Small-Scale Rice Production', in F. Funes, L. Garcia, M. Bourque, N. Pérez and P. Rosset (eds) Sustainable Agriculture and Resistance: Transforming Food Production in Cuba (pp. 237-245). California: Food First Books.
USAID (2004) 'Agricultural Strategy: Linking Producers to Markets', July, US Agency for International Development, Washington DC.
Vega Bolanos, L.O., J. A. Arias Verdes, T. Conili Diaz and M.L. González Valiente (1997) Uso de Plagicidas en Cuba, su Repercusión en el Ambiente y la Salud. Havana: INHA.
Weaver, M. (1997) 'Cuba: Organic Revolution', The Ecologist 29(8), December.
Wiebe, K., N. Ballenger and P. Pinstrup-Anderson (eds) (2001) Who Will be Fed in the 21st Century ? Challenges for Science and Policy. Washington: IFPRI.
Wilson, H. and P. Harris (1996) 'Report on Havana Urban Agriculture Organic Production', Henry Doubleday Research Association, Coventry.
Windfuhr, M. (2001) 'The right to adequate food in the process of the World Food Summit follow-up: The possible role of an international code of conduct on the right to adequate food', 2001 Position Papers, NGO/CSO Forum for Food Sovereignty, Rome, 8-13 June, http://www.forumfoodsovereignty.org
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WUR (2002) 'Wageninse Visies op Voedseizekerheid', Wageningen Platform for Food Sovereignty, Wageningen University and Research Centre, the Netherlands.

Comments

Comment on this article

[1] Baker, B. (2001) The Truth About Food. Bristol: The Soil Association.

[2] Benson, T. (2004) 'Africa's Food and Nutrition Security Situation. Where are we and how did we get here?' 2020 Discussion Paper No. 37. IFPRI, Washington DC.

[3] Buys, J. (1993) 'Conversion Toward Organic Agriculture in Russia: A Preliminary Study', Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 10(2): 141-54.

[4] Carney, J. (ed.) (1993) 'Low-Input Sustainable Agriculture in Cuba', Agriculture and Human Values 10(3), Summer.

[5] Castro, F. (1996) Address to the World Food Summit, 18 November 1996, Rome.

[6] Deere, C.D. (1996) 'The Evolution of Cuba's Agricultural Sector: Debates, Controversies and Research Issues', International Working Paper Series IW96-3. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Food and Resource Economics Department, Gainesville.

[7] Deere, C.D. (1997) 'Reforming Cuban Agriculture', Development and Change 28: 649-69.

[8] Deere, C.D., N. Perez and E. Gonzales (1994) 'The View from Below: Cuban Agriculture in the "Special Period in Peacetime"', Journal of Peasant Studies 21(2), January 1994: 194-234.

[9] DFID (2004) 'Agriculture, Hunger and Food Security', Working Paper 7. DFID/RNRA Team Working Paper. Department for International Development, London.

[10] DFID (2005) 'Productivity Growth for Poverty Reduction: An Approach to Agriculture', Policy Paper. DFID, London.

[11] Dieksmeirs, G. (1995) 'Plaguicidas Residuos: efectos y presencia en el medioambiente', Unpublished doctoral thesis, INHA, Havana.

[12] Enríquez, L.J. (1994) 'The Question of Food Security in Cuban Socialism'. Monograph. University of California, Berkeley.

[13] Enriquez, L.J. (2000) 'Cuba's New Agricultural Revolution: The Transformation of Food Crop Production in Contemporary Cuba', Development Report No. 14. Dept. Sociology, University of California.

[14] FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) (1998) 'Evaluating the Potential of Organic Agriculture to Sustainability Goals', FAO Technical Contribution to IFOAM's Scientific Conference, Mar del Plata, Argentina.

[15] FAO (2001) 'Ethical Issues in Food and Agriculture', FAO Ethics Series, Rome.

[16] FAO (2002) 'The Nutrition Transition and Obesity - The Developing World's New Burden: Obesit', Focus, January. FAO, Rome.

[17] FAO (2004) 'Food and Agriculture Indicators Cuba', http://www.fao.org/countryprofiles

[18] Felipe, E. (1995) 'Apuntes sobre el desarrollo social en Cuba', Boletin informativo, CIEM No. 20. Marzo-Abril: 3-16.

[19] Garfield, R. (1999) 'The Impact of Economic Sanctions on Health and Wellbeing', Relief and Rehabilitation Network, Network Paper 31, ODI, London.

[20] Goodman, D. and M. Redclift (1991) Refashioning Nature: Food, Ecology and Culture. London: Routledge.

[21] Hamilton, H. (2003) 'A Different Kind of Green Revolution in Cuba', Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy, Oakland, California.

[22] IAC (2003) 'IAC Study on Science and Technology Strategies for Improving Agricultural Productivity and Food Security in Africa', Progress Report, May. InterAcademy Council Study Panel.

[23] IICS (2008) 'Cuba Reforms Summary 2008', Press release. International Institute for Cuban Studies, London Metropolitan University.

[24] Lane, P. (1997) 'El Modelo Cubano de Desarrollo Sostenible. Seminario Internacional Medio Ambiente y Sociedad'. Havana.

[25] Mesa-Lago, C. (1998) 'Assessing Economic and Social Performance in the Cuban Transition of the 1990s', World Development 26(5): 857-76.

[26] MINCIN (2001) Figures, Ministry of Domestic Trade. http://www.cubagob.cu/Ingles/ des_eco/mincin/mincin.htm

[27] Morris, E. (2008) 'After Fidel, Prospects for Economic Change', After Fidel, the Prospects for Economic Change in Cuba and US/Cuban Relations. London, Canning House.

[28] Moskow, A. (1999) 'Havana's Self-Provision Gardens', Environment and Urbanisation 11(2): 127-32.

[29] Murphy, C. (1999) 'Cultivating Havana: Urban Gardens and Food Security in the Cuban Special Period', Unpublished Master's thesis. Fac. Latinoamerica de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Nacional de Habana.

[30] Nieto, M. and R. Delgado (2002) 'Cuban Agriculture and Food Security', in F. Funes, L. Garcia, M. Bourque, N. Pérez and P. Rosset (eds) Sustainable Agriculture and Resistance: Transforming Food Production in Cuba (pp. 40-56). California: Food First Books.

[31] Nova, A. (1999) 'Las Unidades Basicas de Producción Cooperativa (UBPC)', Economic Press Service No. 6, March, IPS, Havana.

[32] Oliveros Blet, A., A. Herrera Sorzano and S. Montiel Rodríguez (1998) 'El Abasto Alimentario en Cuba y Suss Mecanismos de Funcionamiento', Unpublished manuscript, Faculty of Geography, University of Havana.

[33] ONE (2001) 'Anuario Estadístico de Cuba 2001', Oficina Nacional de Estadísticos, Havana.

[34] ONE (2006) 'Anuario Estadístico de Cuba 2006', Oficina Nacional de Estadísticos, Havana.

[35] Pastor, M. (1992) 'External Shocks and Adjustment in Contemporary Cuba', Working Paper, International and Public Affairs Centre, Occidental College, USA.

[36] PNAN (1994) Statistics. Pan American Health Organisation, http://www.paho.org

[37] República de Cuba (1994) 'Plan Nacional de Acción Para la Nutrición'. Havana.

[38] Rodríguez, S. (1998) 'La Comercialización de la Producción Agrícola. La transformacio- nes de la agricultura cubana a partir de 1993', Proyecto de Investigación H/71/972. Capitulo V.

[39] Rosset, P. (2000) 'Cuba: Successful Case Study of Sustainable Agriculture', in F. Magdoff, J.B. Foster and F.H. Buttel (eds) Hungry for Profit: The Agribusiness Threat to Farmers, Food and the Environment (pp. 203-13). New York: Monthly Review Press.

[40] Rosset, P. and M. Benjamin (1994) Two Steps Back, One Step Forward: Cuba's Nationwide Experiment with Organic Farming. San Francisco: Global Exchange.

[41] Rosset, R and S. Cunningham (1994) The Greening of Cuba: Organic Farming Offers Hope in the Midst of Crisis. San Francisco: IFDR

[42] Rosset, P. and M. Moore (1997) 'Food Security and Local Production of Biopesticides in Cuba', LEIS A Magazine 13(4), December: 18-19.

[43] Ritchie, H. (1998) 'A Revolution in Urban Agriculture', Soils and Health 57(3).

[44] SED AGRI (1998) 'Actualidades de la Agricultura', Boletin 0/98, Agencia de Información Para la Agricultura (AGROINFOR), Ciudad de la Habana.

[45] Sinclair, M. and M. Thompson (2001) Cuba Going Against the Grain: Agricultural Crisis and Transformation. Oxfam America.

[46] Snyder, B. (2003) 'Cuba: A Clue to Our Future?' Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy, Oakland, California.

[47] Socorro, M., L. Alemán and S. Sánchez (2002) '"Cultivo Popular": Small-Scale Rice Production', in F. Funes, L. Garcia, M. Bourque, N. Pérez and P. Rosset (eds) Sustainable Agriculture and Resistance: Transforming Food Production in Cuba (pp. 237-245). California: Food First Books.

[48] USAID (2004) 'Agricultural Strategy: Linking Producers to Markets', July, US Agency for International Development, Washington DC.

[49] Vega Bolanos, L.O., J. A. Arias Verdes, T. Conili Diaz and M.L. González Valiente (1997) Uso de Plagicidas en Cuba, su Repercusión en el Ambiente y la Salud. Havana: INHA.

[50] Weaver, M. (1997) 'Cuba: Organic Revolution', The Ecologist 29(8), December.

[51] Wiebe, K., N. Ballenger and P. Pinstrup-Anderson (eds) (2001) Who Will be Fed in the 21st Century ? Challenges for Science and Policy. Washington: IFPRI.

[52] Wilson, H. and P. Harris (1996) 'Report on Havana Urban Agriculture Organic Production', Henry Doubleday Research Association, Coventry.

[53] Windfuhr, M. (2001) 'The right to adequate food in the process of the World Food Summit follow-up: The possible role of an international code of conduct on the right to adequate food', 2001 Position Papers, NGO/CSO Forum for Food Sovereignty, Rome, 8-13 June, http://www.forumfoodsovereignty.org

[54] Wright, J. (2005) 'Falta Petroleo! Perspectives on the Emergence of a More Ecological Farming and Food System in Post-Crisis Cuba', Doctorate thesis, Dept. of Social Sciences, Wageningen University, the Netherlands.

[55] WUR (2002) 'Wageninse Visies op Voedseizekerheid', Wageningen Platform for Food Sovereignty, Wageningen University and Research Centre, the Netherlands.

International Journal of Cuban Studies

THE LITTLE-STUDIED SUCCESS STORY OF POST-CRISIS FOOD SECURITY IN CUBA: DOES LACK OF INTERNATIONAL INTEREST SIGNIFY LACK OF POLITICAL WILL?

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