Speaking today at the World Food Forum organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel denounced the severe impact of U.S. economic sanctions on the island's food production and distribution systems.

In a video message delivered during the event's opening session, the head of state declared that Cuba's food security challenges stem not only from environmental factors or market dynamics, but from more than six decades of an economic, commercial, and financial blockade.

Furthermore, he warned that “armed conflicts, the climate crisis, and economic turbulence disproportionately affect developing nations, where over 640 million people suffer from extreme hunger.”

Díaz-Canel noted that external restrictions severely limit the island's access to international markets, financing, agricultural inputs, technology, and fuel. He specifically criticized the tightening of sanctions measures enacted by the Trump administration since early 2026, asserting that they harm every stage of the agrifood supply chain, from planting and processing to transport and distribution.

In response to these adversities, the Cuban government has moved to reduce reliance on external supplies and enhance the resilient capacity of its agricultural network. Recent initiatives center on territorial decentralization, scientific innovation, renewable energy integration, and boosting domestic production.

The president expressed gratitude for FAO's ongoing cooperation, which has mobilized nearly $100 million in technical assistance, resources, and specialized training for Cuba's productive sectors. Additionally, he announced the island's “joining of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, implementing two targeted programs to safeguard vulnerable populations.”

As part of its participation, the Caribbean nation presented two major agricultural projects aimed at strengthening the coffee and honey production chains, prioritizing rural employment, environmental sustainability, and export growth.

“We issue an urgent call to reinforce international cooperation and defend food as a fundamental human right,” he added.