Cuba’s Minister of Agriculture (MINAG), Ydael Pérez Brito, accompanied by the Minister of Science, Technology, and the Environment (CITMA), Armando Rodríguez Batista, held a meeting with FAO Director-General QU Dongyu during the World Food Forum (WFF).
During the cordial exchange, the Cuban Minister provided an update on the growing challenges facing the country—stemming from the intensification of the economic, commercial, and financial blockade, the energy embargo, and secondary sanctions imposed by the United States government—as well as their impact on the food and nutritional security of the Cuban people.
In this regard, after thanking the FAO for its historic support of Cuba, the head of the delegation highlighted the urgent need to continue seeking innovative solutions to current challenges. He referred to the country's recent socioeconomic transformations aimed at boosting domestic food production and attracting investment to the agricultural sector.
For his part, the FAO Director-General highlighted the presence of both ministries at the event as an expression of the necessary coordination between agriculture, science, and environmental sustainability. He also reaffirmed the organization's support for Cuba through technical cooperation projects.
The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both parties to continue strengthening strategic partnerships for the development of Cuban agrifood systems. Also participating on the Cuban side were Jorge Luis Cepero Aguilar, Cuba’s Ambassador to Italy and to the multilateral organizations based in Rome, as well as officials from the ministries of Agriculture; Science, Technology and Environment; and Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment.