Dear Friends,
This week, we finalize our interview on sustainable agriculture in Cuba, with Executive Director of the Caribbean Agroecology Institute Margarita Fernandez. On Sunday, Mexico’s government convened 11 Latin American nations for a migration summit in Chiapas, where these nations emphasized the urgency of improved U.S.-Cuba relations. President Andres Manuel López-Obrador also pledged to advocate for enhanced U.S.-Cuba ties when he meets President Biden at the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP) summit to be held next month in the US. In Congress, regulations aimed at benefiting Cuban entrepreneurs have encountered resistance, primarily from Representative Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-27). As of Sunday, all Cubans transiting through international airports in Mexico must now secure a transit visa, this has prompted several flight cancellations and the suspension of Viva Aerobus layover flights en route to Nicaragua.
See you next week!
Sustainable Agriculture in Cuba: Interview with Margarita Fernandez, PhD (Part Two)
Lea la entrevista en español aquí.
CDA: What role could U.S. actors play in overcoming the island’s current food crisis and supporting food sovereignty in Cuba?
Margarita: U.S. actors engage is just as important or more important than what they are specifically engaging in. Engagement with humility, respect, transparency, trust and curiosity are key. Engagement on the intersection of climate, food, agriculture and sustainable communities will be essential, and there is much we can learn from and support each other, in partnership for mutual learning and benefit. For example, there are many existing strategies used in agricultural and food systems to reduce GHG emissions and sequester carbon that are already implemented in Cuba but need more support. Many of these are rooted in traditional practices implemented globally on small to medium size farms (biodigesters, high levels of agrobiodiversity, low input systems, no till, localized food systems, other agroecological approaches, etc.). It will be important to help support Cubans do more of what they are already doing well, and make sure not to export models of potentially false solutions such as high capital high tech approaches that are not suited to the local context, that depend on volatile and ineffective carbon markets, or are part of a neoliberal model that benefits foreign corporations at the cost of local livelihoods, economies, and ecologies. Agroecology as a practice that builds resilience to climate change by both reducing GHG emissions and building adaptive capacity to respond to impacts, is a recognized approach to implement as part of the Nationally Determined Contributions of the Paris Agreement.
CDA: Looking ahead, what are the priorities and goals for further strengthening U.S.-Cuba cooperation in sustainable food and farming systems initiatives? What areas would you like to see future collaboration and exchange in?
Margarita: Given that there is so little cooperation happening right now, there is much opportunity in a wide range of topics where collaboration would benefit both countries. In the U.S. there is a strong movement pushing for more sustainable food systems and a recognition that the current food system is not working for the environment, for our economies or our communities. My colleagues and I are always inspired by the social and ecological values of the moral economy embedded in Cuba’s agroecological forms of production. Implications of such values on building a more sustainable and equitable food system are already evident in the progress the Cuban food system has made over the past several decades. The potential for full realization of such benefits, in part through social solidarity economy investments and networks and knowledge exchange between U.S. and Cuban food system actors could be substantial.
Deeply connecting actors in both countries represents a unique opportunity for establishing a new kind of trade relationship. Instead of one that centers around commodity production, low wages, marginalized labor, high GHG emissions and damage to domestic food systems in both countries, there is an opportunity to pursue relations centered on principles of agroecology, cooperativism, and food sovereignty. For instance, Cuban cooperatives and U.S. cooperatives could exchange products that they cannot produce in their respective environments, or that are out-of-season. Tropical fruits could be sent to the U.S., and cold weather crops (grains and apples, broccoli) sent to Cuba without undermining existing industries in either country. Some Cuban growers have also identified “mercados solidarios” (markets based on solidarity) as a means to support agroecological efforts both in Cuba and the U.S. by directly connecting communities, cooperatives, investors and other actors with similar social and ecological principles. Can like-minded U.S. and Cuban counterparts forge and develop new models of trade under new economic rules? If there ever was an opportunity for innovative rules of capital and trade relations to be developed, it is today as industrial agriculture is in crisis globally, and climate change pushes us to adapt, requiring ever more deep transitions towards resilience.
Cuban researchers and farmers provide their U.S. counterparts opportunities to learn more about the many Cuban advances in biological pest management, pasture and forage crops, use of beneficial microorganisms, and many other social and ecological innovations. Cuba has rich experience in social methodologies for sharing agroecological knowledge. Notably, Cuba’s campesino a campesino methods have created farmer-to-farmer networks of solidarity and co-learning. The U.S., on the other hand, has extensive experience developing and accessing methods for distributing locally and agroecologically grown food products. Experiences with Food Hubs, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), and consumer cooperatives could provide translatable models to Cuban efforts to relocalize and strengthen local food systems. As well as experience with food policy councils and regional food planning networks that provide models of participatory governance necessary for truly sustainable and resilient food systems. The U.S. can also collaborate with Cuba on developing infrastructure for processing, transport, and cold storage which would address the urgent issues with food waste. Cuba and the U.S. have so much to learn from each other, by isolating Cuba we are isolating ourselves from the opportunity to mutually learn and solve these challenges.
CDA: Is there anything else you would like to share, or think is important for the public to know?
Margarita: It is urgent that we mobilize resources to support the expansion of those building blocks I mentioned above, so that 30 years of work done by the Cuban people do not get swept away by the dominant agro-industrial model that the world knows needs to change in order to address the polycrisis we live, including the climate crisis. One of the most important ways we as U.S. citizens can support the Cuban people is by being engaged with advocacy efforts to change U.S. policy which is hurting the Cuban people. Despite the challenges and limitations of the sanction’s rules on engagement, there are still ways we can engage. Citizens and philanthropy are key for mobilizing resources and channeling them to the many innovative changemakers in Cuba.
Please be in touch if you would like to learn how you can help, margarita@vtcaribbean.org and visit our website www.caribbeanagroecology.org. And thanks to CDA for the opportunity to share our experiences and work in Cuba.
U.S.-CUBA RELATIONS
- Latin American countries urge US to lift sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela to curb migration: On Sunday, Leaders from 12 countries from Latin America and the Caribbean, including Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel, gathered in Palenque, Mexico, to address the increasing irregular migratory flows in the region. In an agreement established during the meeting, the leaders agreed to create an action plan for development, focusing on areas such as food self-sufficiency, environmental protection, decent employment, education, and energy security, among others. They also urged the lifting of “unilateral coercive measures imposed on countries in the region (sanctions, blockades or terrorism listings), as they are contrary to international law and have serious social repercussions beyond the target countries.” Cuba’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez Parilla, pointed out that the U.S. embargo on Cuba has significantly contributed to immigration by “depressing income and generating poverty and hunger.” The agreement explicitly calls Cuba and the U.S. to hold a comprehensive bilateral dialogue as soon as possible. Notably, the United States, Canada, and the United Nations were not present at the summit (El País). After the summit, President López-Obrador revealed his intention to urge President Joe Biden to initiate dialogue with Cuba during their upcoming meeting in San Francisco (Reuters). The push for U.S.-Cuba dialogue is rooted in his belief that the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba constitutes a “flagrant violation of human rights” and should be lifted.
- New regulations for Cuba’s private sector halted in Congress: Last month, officials from the Biden-Harris Administration announced that new regulations to promote growth for Cuba’s private sector were bound to be put out soon. However, the announcement has been delayed due to opposition from members of Congress, particularly Representative Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-27), who has historically opposed engagement with Cuba (The Miami Herald). The regulations would allow Cuban entrepreneurs to open U.S. bank accounts and enable U.S. banks to process dollar transactions involving Cuban nationals. Rep. Díaz-Balart, a Cuban-American, has expressed concern about the regulations which include U-turn transactions that he believes would not only aid Cuban entrepreneurs but also Cuba’s government. The regulations for Cuba’s private sector await final approval, with no updates from the U.S. State Department.
- This summer, CDA hosted a delegation of four Cuban entrepreneurs in Washington, D.C. click here for more information about the trip
- Cuban diplomat meets with U.S. State Department Official: Earlier this month, Deputy General Director of the U.S. General Division in Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Johana Tablada de la Torre, met with Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Eric Jacobstein in Washington, D.C. (The Miami Herald). The meeting arrives amidst continued efforts by Cuba’s government to seek relief from U.S. sanctions as the island’s economic crisis deepens. The discussions during this meeting covered diplomatic facilities, consular services, irregular migration, and human rights. Assistant Secretary Jacobstein urged Cuba to release the approximately 1,000 political prisoners and allow Cubans to exercise their fundamental freedoms. Reports of this meeting follow Deputy Director Tablada’s interview with The Hill last week.
U.S.-Cuba Recommended Readings and Viewings:
- Resettling in the U.S.; A Cuban poet’s new life in Miami: A WRLN interview with 54-year-old Afro-Cuban poet Amaury Pacheco, explores his journey, challenges, and the gradual adjustment to his new life in the United States after arriving in Miami through the Biden-Harris Administration’s humanitarian parole program for people from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, and Nicaragua (WRLN).
IN CUBA
In Cuba Recommended Readings and Viewings:
- Cuba’s housing crisis remains a source of terror for several residents: Havana’s housing crisis looms over hundreds of families as they live in fear of their aging and poorly maintained buildings collapsing during tropical storms (AP News). Residents of an 18th or 19th century deteriorated building in Villegas Street have pleaded with Cuba’s authorities for assistance, but their requests have gone unanswered. Their dire living conditions is the reality for many Cubans in Havana and other provinces, who are at risk of falling victim to building collapses. Read our previous reporting on Cuba’s housing crisis here.
- Using aquaponics to address Cuba’s fish shortage: Cuban entrepreneurs José Martínez and Joel López cultivate 12 tons of tilapia annually using aquaponics, offering fresh fish to a nation facing food shortages (AFP). Cuba’s potential annual fish harvest is around 12,000 tons, but due to resource shortages, it has fallen short. Mr. Martínez and Mr. López have built 12 ponds and plan to harvest 36 tons of vegetables. This initiative provides a practical solution to the food scarcity crisis in Cuba, which is compounded by economic difficulties.
CUBAN MIGRATION
- Viva Aerobus cancels flights to Nicaragua with layovers in Mexico after new transit restrictions: Effective October 22, 2023, Mexico’s consulate in Havana stipulated that all Cubans transiting through international airports in Mexico are now mandated to secure a transit visa, prompting several flight cancellations (Directorio Cubano). The restriction is a direct response to the increased influx of Cuban migrants in Mexico, many of whom used layover flights en route to Nicaragua. These measures impact Cuban travelers who rely on Viva Aerobus flights for layovers in Mérida, providing access to Nicaragua without the requirement of a Mexican visa. Despite the initial scheduling of this route through Mérida until November, it has been abruptly terminated.
Click here for data on Cuban migration to the United States, including total Cuban migration to the U.S. and the number of Cubans interdicted by the U.S. Coast Guard.
CUBA’S FOREIGN RELATIONS
- Cuba urges for solutions in Israel-Palestine conflict following U.S. veto in UNSC: On Thursday, Cuba strongly criticized Israel’s airstrikes on Gaza (teleSUR News). Cuba’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, called for the immediate reinstatement of the 10th Extraordinary Session of the United Nations General Assembly to prioritize the cease of violence, a ceasefire, and the providing of emergency humanitarian aid in Gaza. Minister Rodríguez expressed concern over the United States’ extensive use of its veto power within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), specifically in relation to a resolution proposed by Brazil. Mr. Rodríguez highlighted a glaring contradiction within the UN Security Council’s approach, noting its readiness to support the use of force in various situations but hesitancy when the matter concerns Israel. Last Tuesday, President Díaz-Canel condemned Israel’s airstrike of Gazan Hospital Al Ahli, demanding an end to the “flagrant violations of the International Humanitarian Law.” Cuba continues to advocate for a two-state solution with borders as they stood in 1967, designating East Jerusalem as the capital for the Palestinian state.
- Cuba-China joint company Biotech Pharmaceutical Limited (BPL), a symbol of biotechnical cooperation: During his working visit to China, Cuba’s Deputy Prime Minister Ricardo Cabrisas, emphasized the significance of the joint venture Biotech Pharmaceutical Limited (BPL) as a symbol of scientific and technical cooperation between Cuba and China (Prensa Latina). BPL’s Chairman, Bai Xianhong, commended Cuban experts for their efforts in obtaining approval for the humanized monoclonal antibody Nimotuzumab, a groundbreaking product for treating pancreatic cancer. Mr. Cabrisas working visit to China began October 16th and will culminate on October 26th.
EVENTS
Panel Discussion: Revisiting the War of 1898 and its Long-Term Repercussions for Cuba & the U.S., October 25 | Miami, FL
FIU will hold a panel discussion focused on the impact of the War of 1898 on Cuba and the United States. Leading scholars Javior Figueroe, Marial Iglesias Utset, Kate Clarke Lemay and Taína Caragol will delve into how the aftermath of the Spanish-Cuban-American War transformed the United States and its newly acquired territories, how Cuba emerged as a 1902 nascent republic, and the growing ubiquitous presence of the United States.
Film Screening and Discussion: Blue Heart, November 3 | Miami, FL
FIU is hosting a screening and discussion of a science fiction feature film “Blue Heart” written and directed by Miguel Coyula banned in Cuba, which tells the story of individuals genetically altered before birth with the aim of building the “new man” and saving the socialist utopia. Banned in Cuba, the film is about the individual’s inability to escape his/her environment and the violent nature of a revolution and its consequences.
In-Person Book Presentation | Cuban Music Counterpoints: Vanguardia Musical in Global Networks, November 4 | Miami, FL
In this book, Dr. Marysol Quevedo maps the intellectual and artistic networks Cuban composers forged between 1940 and 1991 by exploring concerts, festivals, and recordings that shed light on how they negotiated aesthetic and political agendas at local and international levels. Beginning with the modernist neoclassicism of the Grupo de Renovación Musical in the 1940s and its Pan Americanist backdrop, the book moves through the more turbulent 1950s and the post-1959 revolutionary period.
The views and opinions expressed by authors are their own and articles do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of CDA.
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