Cuba

Overview

Area km²: 109,884

Population: 11,193,470

Capital: La Habana

ISO 3166: CU

Population density:
101.9 hab/km²

National flower:
White garland-lily (Hedychium coronarium)

Agriculture is very important for the Cuban economy. The country’s major crops are sugarcane and tobacco, but plantains, cassava, sweet potato, tomato, mango, maize, rice, beans and potato, among others, are cultivated as well. Cuba also produces pork and poultry meat, and beef. Cuban chief agricultural exports are tobacco cigars, sugar and ethanol; while imports mainly include poultry, wheat, soybean and its byproducts, maize and milk.

GM Crops

Does the country plant GM crops?

For the time being, Cuba does not commercially produce GM crops.

Are there local developments?

Yes

Some examples of local developments

• Insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant maize, developed by the Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología.

Benefits of GM crops

For the time being, there is no commercial production of transgenic crops in Cuba. Yet, Cuban farmers that planted GM maize under controlled conditions were able to increase their yields from the 1,500 kg per hectare that they were used to harvest using traditional varieties, to more than 5,000 kg per hectare by adopting this technology. Farmers even estimate that yields could continue to improve by adjusting husbandry practices and improving coordination among all those involved in the process. This achievement is an example of innovation and technology transfer where researchers, farmers, companies and governmental authorities join their efforts for the purpose of attaining the same goal: increase maize production. Also, an increased maize production would contribute to import substitution schemes.

For further information regarding benefits

• Campesinos cubanos inician cultivo de maíz híbrido transgénico. Alain Jimenez (2020)

Regulation of GM crops

1999

Since

Brief description of the regulatory framework

The National Committee for the Use of Genetically Modified Organisms is in charge of GMOs regulation in Cuba. Committee members are representatives of the competent authorities of the Ministries of Science, Technology and Environment, Agriculture and Public Health. The regulatory framework covers all activities, including research, trials, release into the environment, import, use for food and processing.

• Regulatory framework

GM animals

Does the country produce GM animals?

For the time being, the country does not commercially produce GM animals.

Brief description of the regulatory framework for GM animals

The National Committee for the Use of Genetically Modified Organisms is in charge of GMO regulation in Cuba. Committee members are representatives of the competent authorities of the Ministries of Science Technology and Environment, Agriculture, and Public Health. The regulatory framework includes activities with genetically modified animals and plants for agricultural use.

• Regulatory framework

Are there local developments?