Cuban Government Boasts About Food Sovereignty Law at UN Despite Domestic Crisis

At the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS+4) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Cuban government once again projected its triumphant narrative on an international stage, showcasing its Food Sovereignty Law enacted in 2022. This self-praise comes amid one of the island's most severe food crises in decades. In his speech, Deputy Prime Minister Jorge Luis Tapia Fonseca claimed that the legislation “enables the collective efforts of all institutions” and reiterated Cuba's willingness to make food systems central to economic and social development agendas aimed at combating hunger, poverty, and inequality. Tapia emphasized South-South cooperation, agroecology, and technological innovation as the cornerstones of the Cuban model, while blaming the U.S. embargo and “unilateral coercive measures” for the agricultural collapse, stating that these restrictions hinder access to fertilizers, machinery, and basic supplies.

Internal Crisis Contradicts Official Claims

The Cuban government's statements sharply contrast with the reality of domestic shortages and inflation. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz openly admitted that “the most reliable resources we will have are those we can produce ourselves,” acknowledging the failure of the centralized model. Official statistics support this view: in 2023, pork production plummeted by over 90%, rice by nearly 60%, and egg and milk production saw declines of around 40%. Over 80% of the country's food is imported, exacerbating a situation where most Cubans face declining purchasing power amid rising prices.

The 2023 Cuban Statistical Yearbook confirmed an unprecedented collapse in the production of essential foods such as pork, rice, eggs, milk, and root vegetables, underscoring the severity of the island's food crisis.

Public Outcry and Sarcasm on Social Media

The release of the government's speech by the official newspaper Granma on Facebook sparked outrage among social media users, who criticized the gap between official rhetoric and street-level reality. Many labeled the statement as “cynical” and “offensive,” arguing that discussing food sovereignty on an international platform is a mockery to those who go to bed hungry. Critics highlighted the lack of food security and self-sufficiency in Cuba, noting that farmers lack fuel and tools, and basic goods are almost entirely reliant on imports. Some comments were more sarcastic: “Cuba can contribute a lot to the Summit… as an example of what not to do” and “Which food system are they going to show, the one for the leaders or the one for the people?” Users pointed out that while there is talk of agroecological strategies and system transformation, people continue to endure long lines for rice, sugar, or chicken when they are available.

International Organizations Weigh In

The Food Monitor Program observatory criticized the Cuban government on social media for historically using the discourse of food sovereignty to mask the reality of a country that has lost more than 67% of its national production and depends on imports for over 80%. According to the organization, food in Cuba is increasingly dollarized and controlled by military conglomerates such as GAESA, which monopolize imports and food distribution, turning access to food into a privilege for those receiving remittances. The NGO warned that these policies not only worsen poverty but also reinforce a food system dominated by corporate-military interests while criminalizing survival strategies like informal food sales.

Unfulfilled Promises of the Food Sovereignty Law

The Food Sovereignty and Nutritional Security Law, approved in 2022 with the aim of ensuring access to “sufficient, diverse, and nutritious” food, reducing import dependency, and organizing sustainable local systems, has failed to reverse the crisis. Three years later, the law is seen as mere rhetoric: promises of national production clash with a lack of supplies, centralized decision-making, and the absence of real incentives for producers. Meanwhile, official speeches continue in international forums, disconnected from a reality where scarcity, inflation, and hunger define the daily lives of millions of Cubans.