This news was published on FAO Cuba website on 10th October 2021. The following text is a translation of the original text in Spanish.

The Jose Marti International Institute of Journalism (IIPJM), the Union of Cuban Journalists and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) held today the virtual workshop "Communicating food sovereignty", within the implementation of the Food Sovereignty and Nutrition Education Plan of the Republic of Cuba (PLAN SAN).

The event was the first step of a broader initiative that seeks to train journalists and communicators to properly address issues related to food sovereignty and nutrition education.

The event began with a presentation of the Plan SAN by Peña Turruellas, National Director of Urban, Suburban and Family Agriculture, and coordinator of PLAN SAN. She explained that it is an intersectoral plan that requires everyone for its implementation. She also called for a change in the management model, putting producers at the center.

In his opening speech, FAO Representative in Cuba, Marcelo Resende, explained that this year, with the slogan "Our actions are our future", World Food Day promotes the transformation of food systems in view of a better agriculture, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.

"In Cuba, farmers are going through a process of food systems transformation, promoted by the President Miguel Díaz-Canel, and this has three big challenges: local development, the approach of science, the knowledge and technology for farmers and the updating of the Cuban economic model”, said Resende.

Betsy Anaya and Anicia García, from the Center for Studies on the Cuban Economy, talked about food security, including domestic production and imports, physical and economic access, as well as the impact of COVID-19 on the reduction of food availability and the increase of prices.

Yenisei Bombino, professor at the University of Havana, highlighted the role played by women in rural areas, and the importance to guarantee the incorporation of women into the economically active population and the recognition of their unpaid contribution.

The journalist and director of the IIPJM, Ariel Terrero, announced the upcoming opening of a course in the Virtual Journalism Classroom of the educational institution on issues related to food sovereignty and nutritional education.

The event counted with the participation of the Brazilian theologian Frei Betto, advisor to the PLAN SAN. It was organized with the support of the FIRST Program (Impact, Resilience, Sustainability and Transformation of Food and Nutritional Security), funded by the European Union.