Abstract
This article describes the methodological challenges encountered in attempting to undertake research into the agricultural sector in Cuba, and the often serendipitous ways in which these challenges may be overcome. The struggles of numerous Cuban researchers who were attempting to continue their work during the resource-poor Special Period are also described. The article examines the views of Cuban colleagues who have informally, and politely, contested interpretations of the ‘snapshot’ of the farming and food systems that the author documented, and discusses their differing perspectives of ‘the real situation’. The author ends with observations about the book that emerged as an adaptation of the doctoral thesis1 and how it has become a seminal text not only for students but also for civil society groups working for change toward more sustainable systems that are less dependent on fossil fuels.
Highlights
It was in about 1992 that I first became interested in Cuba from a professional perspective; rumour had it that Cuba was ‘going organic’ owing to the collapse of the Soviet Union
If a whole nation were practising organic farming, this would clearly have major implications for the rest of the world’s farming and food systems and especially in terms of food security, sustainable agriculture and human health. If this was not happening in Cuba, begged the question ‘Why not?’ From that point of first interest, and notwithstanding the supposed interest of the global agricultural sector in sustainability, it took 6 years to secure the funding to undertake doctoral research in Cuba, receiving support through the EU Marie Curie Training and Mobility of Researchers Awards
I encountered the struggles of numerous Cuban researchers who were attempting to continue their work during the resource-poor Special Period
Summary
It was in about 1992 that I first became interested in Cuba from a professional perspective; rumour had it that Cuba was ‘going organic’ owing to the collapse of the Soviet Union. If a whole nation were practising organic farming, this would clearly have major implications for the rest of the world’s farming and food systems and especially in terms of food security, sustainable agriculture and human health. If this was not happening in Cuba, begged the question ‘Why not?’ From that point of first interest, and notwithstanding the supposed interest of the global agricultural sector in sustainability, it took 6 years to secure the funding to undertake doctoral research in Cuba, receiving support through the EU Marie Curie Training and Mobility of Researchers Awards.. The book that emerged as an adaptation of my doctoral thesis has become a seminal text for students and for civil society groups working for change toward more sustainable systems that are less dependent on fossil fuels
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