Cuba retooled its agricultural programs to focus on urban agriculture sustainable, ecologically sound farming close to densely populated. Cuba, a model of sustainable agriculture towards global food. The republic of cuba is renowned for its high levels of human development based on extensive healthcare coverage. The case is studied worldwide and highlighted by fao. Urban agriculture in havana centre for public impact cpi. Sustainable urban agriculture in cuba semantic scholar. A large number of urban gardens in havana and other major cities have emerged as a grassroots movement in response to the crisis brought about by the loss of trade, with the collapse of the socialist bloc in 1989. When necessary, clubs organize regular watch duties to guard gardens from robbers. Today, there are over 400 horticulture clubs in havana registered with ministry of agriculture. Pdf sustainable agriculture in cuba and its implications matt.
As cubas main trading partner and patron providing preferential terms for aid and abovemarket rates for cuban. She gave an introduction to the basic structures behind urban agriculture ua in cuba. Perez is featured in a film called the power of the community. Urban agriculture in cuba has played an important role for citizens food supply since the collapse of the eastern block. These practices utilize natural systems and connections to grow food more efficiently. Sustainable urban agriculture in cuba contemporary cuba. But questions loom, as diplomatic relations between the u. In 2003, cuba had reduced its use of diesel fuel by more than 50%, synthetic fertilizers by 90%, and chemical insecticides by 83%.
With the collapse of the soviet union and the tightening of the u. Things have only improved since then and today urban agriculture in cuba now produces about 60 percent of all vegetables consumed in the country. As cubas main trading partner and patron providing preferential terms for aid and abovemarket rates for cuban products, the soviet unions abrupt dissolution led to severe shortages of basic goods, monetary aid, and fossil fuels in cuba. Increasing food sovereignty with urban agriculture in cuba. Roberto will also speak about the upcoming international permaculture convergence in cuba. Today, it contributes less than 10% to the gross domestic product gdp, but it employs about 20% of the working population. The case of cuba article pdf available in environment development and sustainability 144 august 2012 with 4,107 reads how we measure reads. The collapse of the soviet union in 1989 had a profound impact on cubas economy.
Through the land reform of 2008 and the lineamientos of 2011, the. The agribusiness threat to farmers, food and the environment, edited by fred magdoff, john bellamy foster and frederick h. For this reason, it supported the creation of the department for urban agriculture at the ministry of agriculture in 1994 and of the national group for urban and suburban agriculture gnau in 1998. From green revolution to a sustainable agriculture cuba in the early 1990s. Project muse sustainable urban agriculture in cuba. Cuba, a model of sustainable agriculture towards global. A large number of urban gardens in havana and other major cities. For example, by utilizing raised beds the farms can better control the quality of their soil and the amount of water they use. Urban agriculture legal structures industrial food systems environmental health policy. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading farming cuba.
Princeton architectural press 2014 mc cruz, r medina, agriculture in the city, a key to sustainability in havana, cuba, kingston, jamaica. The development of urban agriculture is part of a set of innovations in the cuban economy to become more decentralized and more varied. Cuba s accomplishments are undeniably astounding, inspiring and a testament to the countrys flexibility and pragmatism. Sustainable urban agriculture in cuba researchgate. Agriculture in cuba has played an important part in the economy for several hundred years. Towards sustainable agriculture in cuba fernando funesmonzote p. The urban agriculture produces around the 75% of the vegetables and fresh condiments of the country. Apr 03, 2008 the collapse of the soviet union forced cuba to become selfreliant in its agricultural production. She introduced the key concept of ua as an urban agricultural system that aims to produce food focused upon urban and peri urban methods of intensive food production. Maintain an adequate and sustainable supply of food to the urban areas of cuba, particularly havana. Traditional lowinput agricultural techniques, based on organic pests control and crop diversification, has been the backbone of the ecological food production in cuba. Urban agriculture in havana cuba city farmers urban.
The concept of ua urban agriculture could also counteract the strict separation of the urban and the rural. Urban agriculture in cuba has rapidly become a significant source of fresh produce for the urban and suburban populations. Jun 15, 2014 the following is an excerpt from carey clouses farming cuba. Moreover, urban farming has become a source of national pridecuba has one of the best urban agriculture programs in the world, with a thousandfold increase in urban agricultural output. The countrys innovative solution was urban organic farming, the creation of organoponicos. Food now takes far less time to get to the people, who are now better nourished because they have easier access to whole foods. Urban agriculture from the ground up, which explores cubas impromptu agricultural development after the dissolution of the soviet. Agriculture has played an enormous role in cubas history. The cuban ministry of agriculture supported them and, in 1994, an urban agriculture department uad was formed. Why so many havana residents grow their own food citylab. Cuba is the recognized leader of urban agriculture. Its founder, humberto rios labrada, won the goldman environmental prize in 2010. Cuba has been a pioneer in developing urban agriculture in the cities, mainly in havana. Cubas organic agricultural system has gotten a lot of attention over the past fifteen years, particularly among canadians and european urban agriculture.
A successful case study of sustainable agriculture. He tells the story of why and how cuba was able to. International perspectives on sustainable agriculture in cuba. Gonzalezcorzo urban agriculture in cuba tr ansitioned from a crisis model that emerged as a response to the economic crisis of the 1990s to a permanent model characterized by its local focus, diversity of economic actors, and relative decentralization. Situation after the collapse of the socialist block 6. Cubas capital city havana is cited as a worldleading example of good practice in urban food cultivation, producing up to 100% of its. Increasing food sovereignty with urban agriculture in cuba friedrich leitgeb1 sarah schneider2 christian r. Oct 28, 2017 pial is regulated by cubas agriculture ministry but funded largely by european and canadian foundations.
Alice studied urban agriculture in cuba, where local organic urban farms and gardens are ecologically friendly, and produce 90% of havanas fresh produce. The phrase urban agriculture in cuba has a somewhat different meaning, simultaneously more and less restrictive than might appear at a first glance. Since the economic crisis following the collapse of the soviet union. Scott chaplowe, ma, conducted graduate field research in cuba in november 1994 and august 1995 for his masters thesis in geography at ucla. In a wider global context where hunger, malnutrition and rural poverty represent the most essential challenges of. However, despite generating valuable lessons in urban agriculture, it is worth noting the urban farming movement in cuba is still relatively small. Cuba presents a useful case study because the country has endured a food crisis and has thrived. Urban agriculture in cuba has rapidly become a signi. May 24, 2012 articles cuba urban farming cities urban planning editorial garden urban agriculture urban agriculture series food farms cite. Cuba s agricultural history can be divided into five periods. To summarise sustainable agriculture is an agricultural system which does not.
Sep 09, 20 hunger propelled cuba to adopt permaculture approaches to urban and rural agriculture. A lack of infrastructure, market mechanisms, legal frameworks, and production quotas for certain crops have stymied expansion. The urban agriculture can be defined as the production of foods inside the confines of the cities. May 08, 2012 this short documentary, produced by anna farb and rachel gilbert, focuses on urban agriculture in cuba. The cuban experience also indicates sustainable urban economic activity as a byproduct of implementing a. Sustainable urban agriculture in cuba request pdf researchgate. Research initiative for the sustainable development of cuba. Marisol is a specialist in urban agriculture at inifat. Sinan koont has spent the last several years researching urban agriculture in cuba, including field work at many sustainable farms on the island. Cubas urban agriculture revolution cuba lost food imports and agricultural inputs due to the collapse of the soviet bloc in 1989 cuban ministry of agriculture supported the rising grassroots.
Moreover, urban farming has become a source of national pridecuba has one of the best urban agriculture programs in the world, with a thousandfold increase in urban agricultural output since. Fighting oil addiction with urban agriculture urban agriculture can promote a wide range of sustainable development goals for example, food security, energy efficiency, waste management, and employment. This chapter discusses the urban agriculture program implemented in cuba in the mid1990s special period in response to a food security crisis, as an example of legal change in response. The earlier food shortages and the rise in food prices suddenly turned urban agriculture into a very profitable activity. How cuba leads the world in permaculture podcasts parts i. Fighting oil addiction with urban agriculture urban agriculture can promote a wide range of sustainable development goals for example, food security, energy efficiency, waste management, and. The urban agriculture in cuba a productive and popular movement with ecological bases. In havana, 90% of the citys fresh produce came from local urban farms and gardens, all organic. A lack of infrastructure, market mechanisms, legal. Articles cuba urban farming cities urban planning editorial garden urban agriculture urban agriculture series food farms cite. Havana, the capital of cuba, with a population of over two million people, has played a prominent, if not dominant role, in the evolution and revolution of this type of agriculture.
Today, agricultural production in cuba is concerned, as never before, with food selfsufficiency and environmental protection. Pial is regulated by cubas agriculture ministry but funded largely by european and canadian foundations. The exceptional nature of cuban urban agriculture civil eats. Footage was taken during a 9day trip to havana through dickinson colleges community. The cuban agricultural model permaculture magazine.
In 2003, more than 200,000 cubans were employed in urban agriculture. Sustainable urban agriculture in cuba global delivery. Moreover, urban farming has become a source of national. Sustainable and urban agriculture was a logical response of cubans to their resource constraints. Jan 17, 2017 food now takes far less time to get to the people, who are now better nourished because they have easier access to whole foods. Urban agriculture in cuba as cuba changes where to next. After all the progress that cuba has made with organic agriculture, it would be a shame to see it backslide into an industrial, chemicaldependent agricultural system. Reprinted with permission, from the wsaa newsletter, a publication of the world sustainable agriculture association fall 1996, vol. Princeton architectural press 2014 mc cruz, r medina, agriculture in the city, a key to sustainability in havana, cuba, kingston.
It is a fascinating story of dealing with peak oil, something the whole world now faces. Jan 29, 2016 food security in cuba has greatly improved, but remains an issue. Urban agriculture is here to stay and is defined as the growing, processing, and distribution of food and other products through intensive plant cultivation and animal husbandry in and around cities. Sustainable urban agriculture in cuba contemporary cuba by sinan koont. The biggest experiment in lowinput, sustainable agriculture in world history is occurring now in cuba. For example, tourism is very important in this city, and using more urban land to. The country enjoys unprecedented levels of selfsufficiency, with small, local operations producing 90% of all its fruit and vegetables. The sudden collapse of the socialist bloc, upon which cuba had been highly dependent for trade and aid. Food gardens termed organoponicos make up 8% of land in havana, and 3. Moreover, urban farming has become a source of national pridecuba has one of the best urban agriculture programs in the world, with a thousandfold increase in urban agricultural output since 1994. Some cuban farmers also warn that improved relations with the u. The lamb and goat meat productions reaches 76,000 ton per year. Gone are the days when sugar exports were the biggest item in cubas balance of payments.
Urban agriculture in cuba transitioned from a crisis model that emerged as a response to the economic crisis of the 1990s to a permanent model characterized by its local focus, diversity of economic actors. A short film looking at the success of organic urban agriculture in havana, cuba. She introduced the key concept of ua as an urban agricultural. For this reason, it supported the creation of the department for urban agriculture at the ministry of agriculture in 1994 and of the national group for urban and sub urban agriculture gnau in 1998. Sinan koont sinan koont has spent the last several years researching urban agriculture in cuba, including field work at many sustainable farms on the island. The conversion to sustainable agriculture food politics.
Urban agriculture from the ground up kindle edition by clouse, carey. Today, it contributes less than 10% to the gross domestic product gdp, but it employs about 20% of the. Urban agriculture in cuba transitioned from a crisis model that emerged as a response to the economic crisis of the 1990s to a permanent model characterized by its local focus, diversity of economic actors, and relative decentralization. Nov 19, 2016 cubas urban agriculture use a system based on the ideas of agroecology and permaculture. Yet, today, it is only 5% of the gdp with a possibility for expansion. Cuba retooled its agricultural programs to focus on urban agriculturesustainable, ecologically sound farming close to densely populated. The contribution of the small farmer sector to alleviate the impacts of the crisis 8. Download citation sustainable urban agriculture in cuba as largescale industrial agriculture comes under increasing scrutiny. Sinan koont, sustainable urban agriculture in cuba.
Opportunities for cuba to develop within the global market may take a toll on the support for urban agriculture in havana. While accounting for a relatively small of total agricultural output, and a correspondingly small share of total agricultural. Mar 01, 2016 the cuban ministry of agriculture supported them and, in 1994, an urban agriculture department uad was formed. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Cuba has come a long way since the collapse of the soviet union, when the loss of imports crucial for the island nations industrial agriculture systemsuch as chemical pesticides and fertilizersleft cuba. Moreover, urban farming has become a source of national pride cuba has one of the best urban agriculture programs in the world, with a thousandfold increase in urban agricultural output since 1994. Ian randle publishers 2003 f funes monzote and r sanchez, small livestock in the city, leisa magazine, september 2005. Productive achievements of the urban agriculture in cuba.
Food security in cuba has greatly improved, but remains an issue. Request pdf on jan 1, 20, c ergas and others published sustainable urban agriculture in cuba find, read and cite all the research you need on. This paper considers the evolution of these sites, known within the field by the name of patios and parcelas,iii showing them. Between 1989 and 1995, the average cubans daily food intake fell from 2,908 calories to 1,863 fas usda 2008. For instance, havana has an extremely successful urban agriculture network that feeds more than 12 of the people in the city. Cuba managed to create a worldclass case of ecological agriculture funes, 2012.