Cuba鈥檚 food economy is on the verge of its most significant change in decades: the infusion of a small, non-state private sector to kickstart local production in a country that presently imports 80 per cent of its food.
Last year, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) announced a $5-million initiative, led by Dal鈥檚 Faculty of Management, to support the Cuban government in improving local economic development and enhancing food security in four Cuban provinces. As part of the project, 24 Cubans will be spending two weeks in Canada each year, connecting with researchers, government agencies and food producers to consider approaches that could be applied in their home country.
This summer, Dal welcomed the first delegation of the Local Economic Growth and Food Security Project. The four individuals were the Cuban co-leads on each of the project鈥檚 four key areas: support for local entrepreneurs, public administration, local economic development and industrial symbiosis.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a key component of the project, in that they get a chance to come to Canada and understand how we look at food security, food access, local economic development and government support activities in our country,鈥� explains Martine Durier-Copp, co-director of the project and director of Dal鈥檚 Centre for Advanced Management Education.
鈥淲e do not, in any way, expect that the Canadian model is going to be replicated; that鈥檚 not the intent at all. It鈥檚 to show them some options鈥� to broaden their sphere of reference in terms of how these issues are tackled by other jurisdictions.鈥�
Sharing expertise
The delegation was in the Maritimes from July 21 until August 3. The guests鈥� itinerary was jam-packed, and included visits to Dal鈥檚 Faculty of Agriculture; the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture; Dalhousie鈥檚 Centre for Family Business and Regional Prosperity; Mount Saint Vincent University鈥檚 Centre for Women in Business; the Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development; the Canadian Food Inspection Agency; and various local farms and food producers.
鈥淲e鈥檙e taking very good experiences from the co-operative centres: how they perform applied research, how they use science and innovation towards local economic development, and the belief in social and economic sustainability in local communities,鈥� said Yadiris del Valle Atala from the Universidad de Guantanamo. 鈥淔rom the experience we have in Cuba in sustainable agriculture and ecology, we think we can have closer links in terms of exchanges, training, and mentoring for technology transfer.鈥�
The delegates took particular note of the strong role universities like Dal and the Universit茅 de Moncton (which is also participating in the project) play in supporting the region鈥檚 agricultural economy.
鈥淭here is a synergy between the strategies of the local community and the universities,鈥� said Eliccor Castro Contreras of the Universidad de Gronma. 鈥淭hat is a big responsibility that [Dalhousie] University has in the world. We鈥檝e been able to learn and exchange about that responsibility.鈥�
Dr. Durier-Copp says the visit was 鈥渆xtremely successful,鈥� with great feedback from the delegates. Since the program鈥檚 focus is on creating training programs that can be implemented in Cuba, the next step for the co-leads is designing curricula that can be launched in 2014. There will also be two, more specialized delegations visiting our region later this year.
鈥淭here鈥檚 something that always comes out in the solidarity between Canada and Cuba,鈥� adds Dr. Durier-Copp. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a connection between Canada and Cuba that really stands out when we have these visitors here.鈥�