Brazil and Cuba Conclude High-Level Meeting on Food Security and Nutritional Sovereignty in Havana

Historic Meeting Fosters Bilateral Cooperation

Havana, Cuba – Brazil and Cuba successfully concluded their inaugural high-level meeting on 'Public Policies for Food Sovereignty and Nutritional Security' on September 23 and 24, 2025. The two-day event, held in Havana, aimed to deepen bilateral cooperation and facilitate the exchange of experiences in social policies across key areas including agriculture, food supply, and public health.

Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz opened the meeting, describing the initiative as a 'fundamental space' for South-South cooperation. He underscored that food security is both a human right and a cornerstone of social stability, emphasizing the need for inclusive systems involving youth, women, and rural communities. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez also highlighted the significance of the relationship between Cuba and Brazil as a 'fundamental pillar' for cooperation in food sovereignty and in rejecting the U.S. blockade.

Key Participants and Shared Objectives

The Brazilian delegation included prominent figures such as Agrarian Development and Family Farming Minister Paulo Teixeira, Social Development, Family and Hunger Relief Minister Wellington Dias, and Ambassador Ruy Carlos Pereira, head of the Brazilian Cooperation Agency. Ana Terra Reis, Brazil's Secretary for Food Supply, Cooperativism, and Food Sovereignty, noted that the Havana meeting helped systematize ongoing cooperation and marked Brazil's resumption of public policies aimed at tackling inequality, hunger, and poverty. Fernanda Macedo, President of the National Fund for the Development of Education in Brazil, also participated, discussing the School Food Coalition's efforts to eradicate hunger globally.

Discussions focused on strengthening national agri-food systems, with a particular emphasis on family farming and sustainable consumption. Both nations expressed a commitment to sharing knowledge and developing synergies to bolster their partnership.

Expanding Cooperation Across Sectors

Currently, Brazil and Cuba maintain seven bilateral projects spanning agriculture, livestock, aquaculture, and health, supported by specialized institutions and the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The meeting explored new exchanges between Cuban and Brazilian cooperatives to improve food production, advance agroecology, refine techniques, and strengthen management models.

In the health sector, a cooperation protocol was signed to facilitate the exchange of technology and knowledge on topics such as chronic diseases, vaccines, biotechnology, biodiversity, and infectious diseases. Brazil aims to leverage Cuba's advanced knowledge in these areas, contributing its expertise in clinical research and large-scale product production.

Joint Declaration and Future Outlook

The meeting concluded with a joint declaration reaffirming both countries' commitment to a common action plan. Priorities outlined include:

• Strengthening urban and family farming
• Expanding cooperative exchanges
• Promoting food and nutrition education
• Fighting climate change
• Enhancing regional cooperation

Brazilian Minister Paulo Teixeira reiterated Brazil's support for Cuba and condemned the U.S. blockade against the island. The event underscored the mutual desire to build more resilient and equitable societies through sustained collaboration in social protection, food sovereignty, and nutritional security.