Cuba-Brazil, Food Security Matters
Brazil is today a major player on the international scene. There is an
abundance of evidence currently available suggesting that this country's
influence is poised to go from strength to strength.
Continental in size, this great country has resources to match, whether
those resources cited happen to be its population or cornucopia of
natural resources.
One of its most valued resources is that its people have embraced
democracy and the rule of law as fundaments to its future growth and
development.
In today's commentary, we reference this country's expanding relations
with nations in our region, inclusive of Haiti and Cuba.
Today we take note of some initiatives it has forged with Cuba.
We cite the growing agricultural cooperation between Brazil and Cuba,
with the focus being put on soybean production.
While Cuba has indeed studied the possibility of growing soy for a
number of years with advice from Canadian and South American experts,
this has been to no avail.
Things may now be set to change.
Some new information to the effect that, "Brazil and Cuba announced on
Friday that the South American powerhouse was providing technical
assistance and seed to the Communist-run Caribbean island to grow
soybeans on an industrial scale for the first time."
Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, speaking in Havana to a meeting
of Brazilian and Cuban businessmen, said the project represented "a new
and important moment for Cuba's development."
Amorim, who arrived on Thursday with dozens of businessmen for a two-day
visit, said land was already identified for the project and seed ready.
Brazil is one of the world's largest producers of genetically modified
soy, but it was not clear if it would be used in Cuba.
We do know that soy – modified or not – is truly a wonder crop. As
research reveals, soy happens to be nontoxic, nonpolluting, and
biodegradable.
Soy is becoming the precursor of choice for manufacturing paints,
solvents, textiles, lubricants, plastics of every variety, and countless
other products.
Indeed, soy – as we are told – provides oil for chainsaw motors in
Montana, glue for plywood cabinets in Michigan, foam insulation for
offices in Massachusetts, and backing for artificial turf in putting
greens and stadiums throughout the Midwest.
Most of this soy is produced in a place in Brazil that is aptly named,
Soylandia.
Again, research reveals that, "Soylandia, with nearly 60% of the world
market, dominates the global soy trade. And Brazil - the heart of
Soylandia - is an agricultural powerhouse. Not only is it the world's
biggest soy exporter, a title it seized from the U.S. in 2006, but it
has the world's biggest farm trade surplus, $27.5 billion last year.
Brazil is the world's leading producer of beef, poultry, pork, ethanol,
coffee, orange juice concentrate, sugar, and tobacco.
Facts and figures show that Brazil has seen farm exports grow an average
of 20% a year since 2000, according to the USDA.
Of all those products, soy is by far the most important. Today, demand
for soy is exploding.
This is witnessed and evidenced by the fact that the use of soy for
animal feed is soaring. China wants it for its fast-growing poultry,
swine, and fish-farming industries, while Europe increasingly demands it
because soy-fed cattle can't develop mad cow disease.
This information and more like it amply illuminates why this wonder bean
would so pique the interests and tastes of the Cuban people, and thus
Celso Amorim's remarks concerning possible joint ventures between Brazil
and Cuba in the future.
There is talk from the Cuban Foreign Trade Minister Raul de la Nuez that
some 30,000 to 40,000 hectares of land to start, but with possibilities
to extend it.
This is to be done as part of an experiment. As the Trade Minister
rightly suggests, "We have to develop it little by little because it is
not something we have grown before in Cuba."
This is a matter of the highest priority for the Government and people
of Cuba.
"Cuban President Raul Castro recently termed increased agricultural
output "a matter of national security."
A Cuba that wishes for, craves and values its freedom would wish to
increase the amount of food that is home-grown.
In our view, so too should countries like The Bahamas and its other
neighbours in the region.
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