Abstract
Most research on food security focuses on helping people get food once they are already insecure, or specific nutritional needs. However, this research proposes that by focusing on how people access notorious food is a better measurement for food security since it gives populations more autonomy allowing them to have the resources to stay food secure. This research examines the Proyecto de Innovación Agropecuaria Local (PIAL) and its possible effect on food security through increasing accessibility of sustainable food to Cubans in Old Havana. P.I.A.L. a program in Cuba strives to achieve food security for the Cuban people, through local agricultural/ community based projects. One way to see if this program is increasing food security is by measuring the accessibility of its’ products. Therefore, this research examines the possible effects that PIAL has on food accessibility for Cuban residents. The primary geographic focus is on the municipality of Old Havana because it is one of the most populated municipalities in Cuba. This makes food accessibility essential to feed the population, but the lack of resources (oil, gas, transportation) in Cuba makes it hard to implement an accessible food system. Specifically, I analyze a case study of Mediverde Farm, a PIAL urban farm in Old Havana, to understand the extent to which PIAL is achieving the goal of increasing food accessibility. This research used a mixed-method approach through a survey and interviews to analyze socioeconomic factors affecting food accessibility.
Presenters
Makenna RobbinsStudent, Masters in Food Studies, New York University, New York, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
Cuba, Food Accessibility, Urban Agriculture, Food Security
