Support Food Sovereignty for Cuba
Urgent Fundraising Campaign
Urgent Fundraising Campaign
March 4, 2026
The recent tightening of U.S. sanctions, effectively imposing an oil blockade, has thrown Cuba into a severe energy crisis and a growing humanitarian emergency, accelerating widespread hunger and malnutrition across Cuba.
UN experts have strongly condemned these measures, warning that they violate international law and will deepen the humanitarian crisis, particularly because Cuba’s health, food, and water systems depend heavily on imported fossil fuels. In response, UN agencies, several governments, and civil society organizations are mobilizing humanitarian assistance. The scale of the crisis demands sustained solidarity and cooperation beyond emergency food aid and towards strengthening sustainable local food systems.
For more than a decade, CAI has been supporting family farmers to build sustainable, low-carbon local food systems rooted in agroecology. Now more than ever, they need our support. At a moment of acute fuel scarcity, strengthening agroecological food systems is not only a matter of food access but also of climate resilience, autonomy, and survival. Boosting the capacity of urban and rural farmers to produce, preserve, and distribute food with limited reliance on fossil fuels is essential.
Funds raised will be used to resource and strengthen the capacity of family farmers in renewable energy and agroecological approaches to irrigate fields, power farm equipment, locally distribute harvests, and nourish local communities, economies, and ecologies.
The recent tightening of U.S. sanctions, effectively imposing an oil blockade, has thrown Cuba into a severe energy crisis and a growing humanitarian emergency, accelerating widespread hunger and malnutrition across Cuba.
UN experts have strongly condemned these measures, warning that they violate international law and will deepen the humanitarian crisis, particularly because Cuba’s health, food, and water systems depend heavily on imported fossil fuels. In response, UN agencies, several governments, and civil society organizations are mobilizing humanitarian assistance. The scale of the crisis demands sustained solidarity and cooperation beyond emergency food aid and towards strengthening sustainable local food systems.
For more than a decade, CAI has been supporting family farmers to build sustainable, low-carbon local food systems rooted in agroecology. Now more than ever, they need our support. At a moment of acute fuel scarcity, strengthening agroecological food systems is not only a matter of food access but also of climate resilience, autonomy, and survival. Boosting the capacity of urban and rural farmers to produce, preserve, and distribute food with limited reliance on fossil fuels is essential.
Funds raised will be used to resource and strengthen the capacity of family farmers in renewable energy and agroecological approaches to irrigate fields, power farm equipment, locally distribute harvests, and nourish local communities, economies, and ecologies.
Support Community-Based Hurricane Recovery Efforts
NOTE March 4, 2026: We continue to raise funds for farming families affected by Hurricane Melissa.
Our hearts go out to communities in the Caribbean affected by Hurricane Melissa.
In Cuba, the eastern provinces of Holguin, Granma, Santiago, and Guantanamo were hardest hit. Widespread flooding and high winds has caused damage throughout the region to homes, hospitals and agricultural lands. While the full extent of the impact is still being assessed, there has been no loss of life. This is in large measure due to Cuba’s highly effective and comprehensive disaster preparedness and response system. This system includes community education, early warning systems, evacuation procedures, and strong civil defense in coordination with local organizations and communities. Some 700,000 people were evacuated ahead of Hurricane Melissa.
CAI is working directly with community partners in the eastern provinces to get relief and recovery supplies to farming families in need. All donations will go directly to support these efforts.
Any amount helps, please consider donating.
DOCUMENTARY FROM CARIBBEAN AGROECOLOGY INSTITUTE
NUESTRA AGROECOLOGIA, NUESTRO FUTURO
(OUR AGROECOLOGY, OUR FUTURE)
For over three decades, Cuba has been reshaping its agrifood system—becoming a global reference for agroecology. Through the voices of farmers and specialists, this award-winning documentary explores the country’s progress, challenges, and the vital role of agroecology in achieving true food sovereignty amid economic crisis.
Official selection at seven international festivals and winner of the 2024 Wildseed Fund Impact Media Award.
🎬 Premieres October 8, 2025 – available for educational use on our YouTube channel.
Co-produced by Caribbean Agroecology Institute, Kandela Productions, and Belly of the Beast.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS AND VIDEOS
- Published in Rooted Magazine. Bringing Cuban Agroecology to the Next Level, addresses new policy reforms.
- Center for Democracy in the Americas interview with CAI Executive Director, Margarita Fernandez, on agriculture and food issues in Cuba.
- The Cuban Paradox, reflections from a recent trip to Cuba, a collaboration between A Growing Culture and Caribbean Agroecology Institute
- Published in Orion Magazine, This Cuban Town has a Sustainability Lesson to Share, by Mario Machado and Margarita Fernandez, tells the inspiring story of La Picadora; a Cuban town that was once a vast sugar-cane monoculture, and is now a reference for agroecology and environmental conservation. The piece seamlessly navigates through Cuba’s agricultural history, food systems’ effects of the U.S. embargo and the national frameworks to confront global challenges such as the climate crisis.