Brazil and Cuba have wrapped up their first meeting on “Public Policies for Food Sovereignty and Nutritional Security”, held in Havana on September 23 and 24. The event aimed to deepen bilateral cooperation and exchange experiences on social policies in key areas such as agriculture, food supply, and public health.
Opening the meeting, Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero described the initiative as a “fundamental space” for South-South cooperation. He stressed that food security is both a human right and a pillar of social stability, highlighting the need to build inclusive systems involving youth, women, and rural communities. “Food sovereignty requires the joint participation of all forces, resources, and organizational structures tied to this strategic mission, which is decisive for the well-being of our peoples,” Marrero said.
Currently, Brazil and Cuba maintain seven bilateral projects in areas such as agriculture, livestock, aquaculture, and health, supported by specialized institutions and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The Brazilian delegation included Agrarian Development and Family Farming Minister Paulo Teixeira; Social Development, Family and Hunger Relief Minister Wellington Dias; and Ambassador Ruy Carlos Pereira, head of the Brazilian Cooperation Agency. Writer and educator Frei Betto, who has long-standing ties to Cuba, also attended, calling the island a “post-capitalist paradigm” in Latin America and stressing its guarantee of fundamental rights (food, health, and education) despite current economic hardships.
Speaking to BdF, Ana Terra Reis, Brazil’s Secretary for Food Supply, Cooperativism, and Food Sovereignty, said the Havana meeting helped systematize ongoing cooperation between the two nations. She noted that Brazil is now resuming public policies dismantled under the far right government, focusing on urgent efforts to tackle inequality, hunger, and poverty. “This is an opportunity to present our most urgent plans and to learn from Cuba’s important contributions in social protection and food supply organization,” she explained.
Reis highlighted new exchanges between Cuban and Brazilian cooperatives aimed at improving food production, advancing agroecology, refining techniques, and strengthening management models. She underscored Cuba’s resilience since the Revolution and said Brazil is now in a position to contribute with recent advances in public policy.
The meeting concluded with a joint declaration reaffirming both countries’ commitment to a common action plan. Priorities include strengthening urban and family farming, expanding cooperative exchanges, promoting food and nutrition education, fighting climate change, and enhancing regional cooperation.
