Member Webex: Cuban Agriculture during COVID-19 – Food Security, Sustainability, and Trade

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a severe blow to a Cuban economy that was already struggling under the weight of increased sanctions and a decline in tourism. For a country that imports roughly 60 percent of its food, reports of shortages and a return of the ration booklet make it clear that the pandemic is having an impact on Cuban food security. The Cuban Ministry of Agriculture has promoted increased domestic production to compensate for reduced imports. Nevertheless, trade will remain a necessity, and there are U.S. producers eager to ship goods.

AS/COA's Cuba Working Group (CWG) is pleased to host Paul Johnson, co-chair of the U.S. Agricultural Coalition for Cuba and Margarita Fernandez, coordinator of the Cuba-U.S. Agroecology Network, for a discussion on the current state of Cuban agriculture, sustainability, and food security efforts in Cuba, as well as prospects for U.S. agricultural trade with Cuba amid the pandemic. Even with heightened tensions between Cuba and the United States, there are areas of cooperation within the realm of agriculture and agroecology that could prove promising.

Registration is open to AS, COA, CWG, YPA members, as well as invited guests.

To register, please email cwg@as-coa.org.