Drawing on Cuba’s experience since the economic crisis of the early 1990s, this article explores the potential of agroecology to strengthen local food systems. It highlights the role of family farmers, cooperatives, urban gardens and farmer-to-farmer learning networks, which have supported the spread of agroecological practices across the country. It also points to evidence from diversified farms suggesting that these systems can produce substantial quantities of food while supporting biodiversity and resource efficiency. However, the transition remains incomplete, and agroecology has not consistently been integrated into national agricultural policy and investment.

The article discusses Cuba’s 2022 Food Sovereignty Law, the 2025 Agroecology Decree and economic and agricultural reforms introduced in 2026. While these measures could expand opportunities for cooperatives and family farmers, their effects will depend on implementation, access to finance and infrastructure, and safeguards against land and market concentration. The article identifies investment in seeds, irrigation, renewable energy, storage, processing and farmer training as priorities for building a more resilient, locally grounded food system.