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Cuba: Ethics, biological control, and crisis

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  • Peter Rosset

Abstract

The 1989 collapse of trade relations with the former socialist bloc plunged Cuba into an economic and food crisis. Cuban farmers, scientists, and planners have responded with alternative agricultural technology to make up for imported food and Green Revolution inputs that are no longer available. A review of Cuban experience to date with biological pest control practices shows that, on the one hand, significant progress has been made that may serve as a model for other countries, while, on the other hand, there still remains a long way to go if Cuba is to create a truly sustainable agriculture. It is essential that we understand the Cuban case if we are to be concerned about ethical issues in biological control. The apparent ability of Cuba to overcome a food crisis without significant use of pesticides stretches our concept of the possible. It thus helps refute the most common argument – that we couldn't “feed the hungry” without pesticides – against taking the “ethical” position in real-world pest management policy debates. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 1997

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Rosset, 1997. "Cuba: Ethics, biological control, and crisis," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 14(3), pages 291-302, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:14:y:1997:i:3:p:291-302
    DOI: 10.1023/A:1007433501248
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paul Gersper & Carmen Rodríguez-Barbosa & Laura Orlando, 1993. "Soil conservation in Cuba: A key to the new model for agriculture," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 10(3), pages 16-23, June.
    2. Nina Shishkoff, 1993. "Plant diseases and their control by biological means in Cuba," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 10(3), pages 24-30, June.
    3. Miguel Altieri & Peter Rosset & Clara Nicholls, 1997. "Biological control and agricultural modernization: Towards resolution of some contradictions," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 14(3), pages 303-310, September.
    4. Deere, C.D., 1992. "Socialism on one island? : Cuba's national food program and its prospects for food security," ISS Working Papers - General Series 18824, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), The Hague.
    5. Jeff Dlott & Ivette Perfecto & Peter Rosset & Larry Burkham & Julio Monterrey & John Vandermeer, 1993. "Management of insect pests and weeds," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 10(3), pages 9-15, June.
    6. Richard Levins, 1993. "The ecological transformation of Cuba," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 10(3), pages 52-60, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Erin Nelson & Steffanie Scott & Judie Cukier & Ángel Galán, 2009. "Institutionalizing agroecology: successes and challenges in Cuba," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 26(3), pages 233-243, September.
    2. Gregor Devine & Michael Furlong, 2007. "Insecticide use: Contexts and ecological consequences," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 24(3), pages 281-306, September.

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