RELATED SEARCHES
Sponsored Cuba Organic Food Results:
Cuba's Organic Food Revolution
By:
Published: September 27, 2006
Many advocates of conventional farming argue that organic agriculture would not be able to sufficiently support large populations. A refute to that claim is the success of Cuba's organic food revolution. Begun after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, Cuba's organic food program is definite proof that organic farming has the ability to feed an entire country.
Before the implementation of organic farming, Cuba imported over 80 % of its food supply from Eastern Europe and 57% directly from the Soviet Union.
It also received a majority of its revenue from sugar cane exports to the Soviet Union. The 1989 collapse of the Soviet Union created food shortages for the country along with an 80% reduction in fertilizer and pesticide imports. The tightening of United States embargo of Cuba in 1992 and 1996 resulted in further food shortages. The country's leader, Fidel Castro, responded to the food crisis by enforcing an organic food agriculture revolution.
Due to shortages in oil, fertilizers, and pesticides, the country had to rely less on industrial style methods that were formerly practiced on State farms. Instead, the country's Ministry of Agriculture created an Urban Agriculture Department with the goal of growing food on small private farms and thousands of small urban gardens called organicpónicos. These small farms and gardens practiced sustainable organic food farming methods such as crop rotation, green manuring, intercropping, and soil conservation. Crops were grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides with farmers relying on biological pest control program such as using cut banana stems baited with honey to attract pests.
By 1998 there were over 8,000 functional cultivated gardens in Havana. Cuba has been successful in its organic food revolution and is a great example of the benefits of sustainable organic agriculture that doesn't rely mainly on oil and chemicals. In December 1999, the Swedish Parliament awarded the Right Livelihood Award to the Cuban organic faming association the Grupo de Agricultura Organica. This award is an alternative Noble prize. Although Cuba's organic food program has been very successful, many experts caution using the country as a direct model. Cuba differs from many countries politically in that it is a communist country and implements methods differently from more democratic countries. However, the country is proof that when organic farming methods are implemented widely it can be successful and has the ability to feed an entire country.
McKibben, Bill. The Cuban Diet. 21 Aug. 2006
[http://www.harpers.org/TheCubaDiet.html].
Warwick, Hugh. Cuba's Organic Revolution. 21 Aug. 2006
[http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/twr118h.htm].
Before the implementation of organic farming, Cuba imported over 80 % of its food supply from Eastern Europe and 57% directly from the Soviet Union.
Related Articles
Due to shortages in oil, fertilizers, and pesticides, the country had to rely less on industrial style methods that were formerly practiced on State farms. Instead, the country's Ministry of Agriculture created an Urban Agriculture Department with the goal of growing food on small private farms and thousands of small urban gardens called organicpónicos. These small farms and gardens practiced sustainable organic food farming methods such as crop rotation, green manuring, intercropping, and soil conservation. Crops were grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides with farmers relying on biological pest control program such as using cut banana stems baited with honey to attract pests.
By 1998 there were over 8,000 functional cultivated gardens in Havana. Cuba has been successful in its organic food revolution and is a great example of the benefits of sustainable organic agriculture that doesn't rely mainly on oil and chemicals. In December 1999, the Swedish Parliament awarded the Right Livelihood Award to the Cuban organic faming association the Grupo de Agricultura Organica. This award is an alternative Noble prize. Although Cuba's organic food program has been very successful, many experts caution using the country as a direct model. Cuba differs from many countries politically in that it is a communist country and implements methods differently from more democratic countries. However, the country is proof that when organic farming methods are implemented widely it can be successful and has the ability to feed an entire country.
McKibben, Bill. The Cuban Diet. 21 Aug. 2006
[http://www.harpers.org/TheCubaDiet.html].
Warwick, Hugh. Cuba's Organic Revolution. 21 Aug. 2006
[http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/twr118h.htm].
Featured Cuba Organic Food Products:
