Lecture Description:

Food systems globally are facing severe and wide-ranging challenges, from climate change and declining soil quality and biodiversity to the consolidation of transnational corporate control, rising inequality, and food insecurity. Within the current geopolitical context, Cuba appears to be at the extreme edge of the global food system crisis. Yet, with very limited resources, Cuban farmers are innovating in ecological food production, contributing to national food security and food sovereignty.

In this presentation, professor Mary A. Beckie will share insights gained during a recent agricultural tour in central Cuba. To better understand the motivations and direction of change, she will begin with a brief historical overview of the complex evolution of agriculture in Cuba, from pre-colonial and colonial times through the influence of American and Soviet imperialism. Despite the historical and contemporary differences between the Canadian and Cuban contexts, Cuba's experience offers important lessons and perspectives on food systems, ecological agriculture, food security, and food sovereignty.

Speaker Bio:

Mary A. Beckie is a professor in the School of Public Health, University of Alberta. She researches and advocates for the development of more localized food systems as part of the pathway towards food sovereignty, food security and community resilience. She has conducted research in Western Canada, Cuba, Sri Lanka, India, the UK and western Europe. Grounded in the scholarship of engagement, Dr. Beckie supports and collaboratively contributes to innovative food system initiatives happening across non-profit, private and public sectors.