Popular gardens are small parcels of stateowned land that are cultivated by. Multifunctional urban agriculture for sustainable land use planning in the united states. Before the launch of the sdgs in september 2015, egypt. These gardens are helping to stabilize the supply of fresh. Sustainable and urban agriculture was a logical response of cubans to their resource constraints. Urban agriculture in havana centre for public impact cpi. Maintain an adequate and sustainable supply of food to the urban areas of cuba, particularly havana.
Find out who we are food is an effective entry point to improve a citys resilience. In many ways, the urban agriculture of cuba provides a model system for how to sustainably and nutritiously feed a population. May 24, 2012 an example of a garden in havana, cuba. Today, it contributes less than 10% to the gross domestic product gdp, but it employs about 20% of the working population. Cuba retooled its agricultural programs to focus on urban agriculturesustainable, ecologically sound farming close to densely populated areas. Sustainable urban agriculture in cuba researchgate.
As a result, more than 35,000 hectares over 87,000 acres of land are being used in urban agriculture in havana. Urban cropland, in particular, covers more than 67 mha or more than 5% of the total global cropland area. How urban agriculture could improve food security in u. Organoponicos or organoponics is a system of urban agriculture using organic gardens. Gone are the days when sugar exports were the biggest item in cuba s balance of payments. Urban agriculture, cuba, agroecology, sustainable agriculture, food security, biological pest control.
This note discusses the harms of our current agricultural and urban development practices as well as the benefits of an urban agricultural system, both in terms of sustainability and food security. Feeding our urbanising world has become an imperative, especially in light of the climate emergency, and city actors. Today, cuba has become a regional leader in sustainable agricultural research. Project muse sustainable urban agriculture in cuba. The cubans called their solution organoponics because it. During the last ten years, sustainable urban agriculture and urban food systems have rapidly moved from being a fringe interest to attracting the attention of policymakers and planners in many cities, both in developing and developed countries. Sustainable urban agriculture in developing countries. Pdf the dominant mode of feeding australian cities is the industrial food.
On a busy street packed with school children in the central cuban city of bayamo, i passed a man hauling a plastic crate full of beets. The first difficulty in dealing with urban agriculture lies in its definition and, hence, its regulation. A lack of infrastructure, market mechanisms, legal frameworks, and production quotas for certain crops have stymied expansion. Mar 01, 2016 the cuban ministry of agriculture supported them and, in 1994, an urban agriculture department uad was formed. Cuba has already accumulated significant experiences in the transition towards a more sustainable agriculture. Solutions for sustainable agriculture and food systems sustainable agriculture. Agriculture in cuba has played an important part in the economy for several hundred years. The development of urban agriculture is part of a set of innovations in the cuban economy to become more decentralized and more varied. Urban agriculture is often difficult because of space limitations, but that has not stopped people from raising animals, growing fruits and vegetables, and even beekeeping in cities.
Hallmarks of cuba s organoponico system have been sustainable produce production, low levels of pesticide use, and other organic farming practices, such as crop rotation and soil management. While havanas urban agriculture has taken on many forms, ranging from private gardens huertos privados to stateowned research gardens organicponicos, havanas popular gardens huertos populares are the most widespread and accessible to the general public. However, despite generating valuable lessons in urban agriculture, it is worth noting the urban farming movement in cuba is still relatively small. This study is to date the only booklength investigation in either. Miscellaneous see more details sustainable, ecologically sound farming close to densely populated areas. Cuba, a model of sustainable agriculture towards global food security by debora iozzi, research associate at the council on hemispheric affairs with the collapse of the soviet union and the tightening of the u. Sustainable urban agriculture in cuba koont, sinan published by university press of florida koont, sinan. It will only continue if is perceived as a vital necessity. It originated in cuba and is still mostly focused there. Cuba s achievements, in the face of exactly the kind of test we will soon face, are nothing short of aweinspiring. It impacts many other urban issues such as transportation, health, land use and waste management. Increasing food sovereignty with urban agriculture in cuba friedrich leitgeb1 sarah schneider2 christian r. It often consists of lowlevel concrete walls filled with organic matter and soil, with lines of drip irrigation laid on the surface of the growing media.
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. Attra national sustainable agriculture information service. Urban agriculture is viewed by many as a viable strategy for achieving sustainable communitybased food systems. These five examples of urban agriculture from around the globe demonstrate how smallscale and local agriculture in cities do more than simply nourish citydwellers. Sinan koont, sustainable urban agriculture in cuba. 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. The upshot of these considerations is that scarcely any wellconsidered case can be made for putting government or donor funds into service for urban agriculture. We propose that urban agriculture has three elements. Download citation sustainable urban agriculture in cuba as largescale industrial agriculture comes under increasing scrutiny.
The case of cuba article pdf available in environment development and sustainability 144 august 2012 with 4,035 reads how we measure reads. The sustainability of selfsufficiency depends on farmers ability and capacity to. The calorie consumption of the average cuban is comparable with that of someone in the uk, but their diet heavy on rice, beans. Sustainable development of agriculture in the caribbean. Here we define natural capital to mean the biotic and abiotic components of a plant growth system, maintained in an area otherwise classified as urban we exclude livestock, aquaculture and other secondary. Urban agriculture can play an important role in supporting local food systems. Why so many havana residents grow their own food citylab. Traditional lowinput agricultural techniques, based on organic pests control and crop diversification, has been the backbone of the ecological food production in cuba. International journal of urban sustainable development, vol. Many people in america are proponents of the organic food movement, and worried about the potentially harmful effects of pesticides on their health. Undoubtedly, today agricultural production in cuba is more selfsufficient and. Simultaneously with the growth of cities, a new type of agriculture has emerged. The home sustainable development knowledge platform.
What are the impacts of urban agriculture programs on food. 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. The role of urban agriculture in building resilient cities. 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. About the sustainable development goals united nations. This urban agriculture movement generated valuable lessons in organic farming for cuba. It takes place in different locations and under varying socioeconomic conditions and. Sustainable urban agriculture in cuba is a comprehensive analysis of urban sustainable agriculture viewed through the lens of a successful transition from a society highly dependent on foreign support to one of selfsustained output based on ingenuity. You even have the opportunity to apply your knowledge during studyabroad courses in cuba and malta. At the national level, inclusive and sustainable development is a core constitutional value and an overall strategic objective. Towards a sustainable development path for agriculture and food food and nutrition security targets are fully embedded in these two goals. She introduced the key concept of ua as an urban agricultural system that. Pushed by necessity but enabled by its existing social and educational policies, cuba in the 1990s launched the most extensive program of urban sustainable agriculture in the world. Five examples of successful urban agriculture done.
The biggest experiment in lowinput, sustainable agriculture in world history is occurring now in cuba. By 2008 food gardens, despite their small scale, made up 8 percent of the land in havana, and 3. In 2003, more than 200,000 cubans were employed in urban agriculture. Jan 17, 2017 sustainable urban agriculture in cuba contemporary cuba sinan koont on. Cubas urban farming shows way to avoid hunger ecowatch. Sustainable urban agriculture in cuba global delivery.
In developing countries, this phenomenon is exacerbated by poverty, leading to tremendous problems of employment, immigration from the rural areas, transportation, food supply and environment protection. Cubas experience of urban agriculture inspired many environmentalists to believe that this is at least part of the solution to the food shortages threatened by climate change. About 30% of the countrys land is used for crop cultivation. A growing statewide interest in urban agriculture demands a closer examination of the connections between land, food, and health in environmental justice communities. Urban agriculture for food security in cuba future directions. Urban agriculture ua has a long tradition in many countries worldwide, is actively engaging about 800 million people, and is now increasingly considered by urban planning and landuse personnel. Hallmarks of cubas organoponico system have been sustainable produce production, low levels of pesticide use, and other organic farming practices, such as crop rotation and soil management. The agribusiness threat to farmers, food and the environment, edited by fred magdoff, john bellamy foster and frederick h. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty.
Cuba retooled its agricultural programs to focus on urban agriculture urban agriculture subject category. Urban agriculture in cuba has rapidly become a significant source of fresh produce for the urban and suburban populations. The sudden collapse of the socialist bloc, upon which cuba had been highly dependent for trade and aid, has forced an abrupt and difficult conversion from conventional agriculture to organic farming on a nationwide scale. We need sustainable urbanization in order to eliminate food inequalities. In havana, 90% of the citys fresh produce came from local urban farms and gardens, all organic.
Urban agriculture in havana cuba city farmers urban. In the 1990s, in the face of a massive food shortage, the citizens of havana did the only thing they could take their lives into their own hands. Creating a sustainable urban agriculture revolution. Cuba, a model of sustainable agriculture towards global. Nature and organization of cuban urban agriculture. These days cuba trades its doctors for venezuelan oil, and imports from china and vietnam. Cuba is the recognized leader of urban agriculture.
The economic crisis led the country to reconsider their former models of resource management. Frank ellis and james sumberg, university of east anglia 1998 food production, urban areas and policy responses. Sinan koont has spent the last several years researching urban agriculture in cuba, including field work at many sustainable farms on the island. Cubas capital city havana is cited as a worldleading example of good practice in urban food cultivation, producing up to 100% of its. However, this effort could be thwarted by changing economic conditions if sustainable agriculture is viewed as a temporary solution to overcome the consequences of the crisis. It addresses characteristics of urban farms and farmers. Creating a sustainable urban agriculture revolution core. Transforming food production in cuba is the story of cubas achievements in the use sustainable agriculture, organic farming, urban gardens, smaller farms, animal traction, and biological pest control to feed the country. Sustainable urban agriculture in cuba contemporary cuba.
Learning sustainable agriculture at warren wilson will broaden your horizons to the many social and ethical impacts that food production can have. A few steps more and another man moved by, weaving in and out of the children. Nov 12, 2019 cuba s experience of urban agriculture inspired many environmentalists to believe that this is at least part of the solution to the food shortages threatened by climate change. Although it has been estimated that urban agriculture can meet 15 to 20 percent of global food demand pdf, it remains to be seen what level of food selfsufficiency it realistically can ensure for cities. Cuba retooled its agricultural programs to focus on urban agriculture sustainable, ecologically sound farming close to densely populated areas. Sustainable urban agriculture in cuba contemporary cuba sinan koont on. In 2003, cuba had reduced its use of diesel fuel by more than 50%, synthetic fertilizers by 90%, and chemical insecticides by 83%. Urban agriculture practices have many benefits and, in particular, may contribute to food. She gave an introduction to the basic structures behind urban agriculture ua in cuba. A successful case study of sustainable agriculture.
Jan 29, 2016 almost 90 percent of the produce consumed in havana province is grown there while nearly onethird of cubas land is used for farming, the vast majority of that land historically was used to. What cuba can teach america about organic farming youtube. Mar 25, 2016 cubas sustainable agriculture at risk in u. A global geospatial ecosystem services estimate of urban.
Urban farming has grown by more than 30 percent in the united states in the past 30 years. The potential benefits agriculture off ers in urban areas have gained the interest of many residents and policy makers, who are implementing policies, developing infrastructure, and creating markets to support the growing number of urban farms. Transforming food production in cuba is the story of cubas achievements in the use sustainable agriculture, organic farming, urban gardens, smaller farms, animal traction, and biological pest control to feed the country paperback. 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 with a severe food crisis in the 1990s.
Their and other cuban experts views on what constitutes urban, sustainable agriculture open the discussion in this chapter. Review of sinan koont, sustainable urban agriculture in cuba gainesville, fl. Formed in 2002and legally registered in 2007, the caribbean farmers network cafan is a regional network of farmers associations and ngos representing over 500,000 farmers in 15 countries. In addressing this question, we will focus on outcomes that measure levels of food security at the individual, household andor community levels. Regional leader in sustainable agriculture cornucopia. In japan, urban agriculture falls under the maff, which is in charge of policies concerning agriculture, and the ministry of land, infrastructure, transportation and tourism mlitt, which deals with urban planning. Sustainable urban agriculture in cuba contemporary cuba 2011 english pdf. Havana food and agriculture organization of the united nations. A conceptual framework to assess urban agricultures potential contributions to urban sustainability. The national group for urban agriculture gnau in the ministry of agriculture has been designated as the lead institution in the urban agriculture effort in cuba. Cuba, a model of sustainable agriculture towards global food. Increasing food sovereignty with urban agriculture in cuba. Meeting food security needs, addressing climate change.
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