When talking to the first virtual workshop with promoters from various Cuban organizations and institutions on popular education in food sovereignty, he specified these actions are essential to support any of the agri-food programs promoted by the country, of which the population is a protagonist and not only beneficiary.

Betto said without nutritional education it is difficult to gain awareness of its importance and it will be impossible to implement and bring to fruition the National Plan for Food Sovereignty and Nutritional Education, SAN, because its reason for being is to promote food production in the communities.

In his opening remarks, he stressed the SAN plan has to totally eradicate food insecurity, because although in Cuba “there is no hunger if you have a good appetite”, aggravated by the prohibitions of the United States economic blockade that makes food imports more expensive.

With an advisor of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Betto recognized progress in the implementation of this program designed to facilitate the organization of local, sovereign and sustainable food systems that integrate production, transformation, commercialization and food consumption.

Approved on July 22 this year, SAN is based on the nation’s ability to give the population access to a balanced, nutritious and safe diet, with a reduced dependence on external means and inputs, with respect to cultural diversity and environmental responsibility.

According to the recent report State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020, the prevalence of undernourishment or hunger in the total Cuban population is less than 2.5 percent and it is one of the three nations in Latin America and the Caribbean -along with Brazil and Uruguay- which show the best results in this regard.

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