Cuba Archive
Spotlight on Cuba
Our colleagues in Cuba recently published a climate impact study showing farms involved in USC-funded work in Cuba have significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions and are notably more energy efficient than conventional farms. But organic farming has many other benefits, and this short photo essay highlights the benefits Cuban farmers have reported since the program began. Read More…
Cuba’s Innovative Farmers
The success of the Local Agricultural Innovation Program (PIAL) in Cuba has been highlighted in a story by the International Press Service. With funding from CIDA, USC Canada has been supporting this farmer-led program since 2007; Canada and Switzerland have been co-funders. Read more about this program that has led to dramatic increases in local biodiversity and helped improve the lives of 50,000 Cuban farmers.
Leading the Diversity Charge
Cuba’s Coco Pedro Felipe, now 80, is a respected farmer-leader in his community. That respect, however, is due to more than just age; Coco has spent the last decade convincing his fellow farmers to find and protect underused seed varieties, restoring seed diversity and the farmer skill and knowledge to manage it. Read his story…
USC Partner Wins “Green Nobel” Prize
We would like to offer a big Congratulations to Humberto Rios Labrada, director of our program in Cuba. Humberto has been awarded the prestigious international Goldman Environmental Prize – also known as the “Green Nobel” – for his ongoing work helping farmers to revitalize Cuban agriculture. Felicitaciones, Humberto! Read More…
Putting Cuba in Context
When two USC Canada volunteers from Vancouver travelled to Cuba in February, they were perfectly placed to witness a lively exchange of information and seeds. Read a first-hand account of their visit with the farmers USC Canada supports.