The workshop was held on June 14th and 15th, 2024, with the presence of 41 participants representing the institutions involved in the project. It was chaired by the University of Artemisa Dean, MSc. Adianez Fernández Bermúdez. DrC. Nivian Montes de Oca Martínez, General Director of CENSA, welcomed the participants and opened the workshop. After the presentations, Ms. Ainara Othaeche, representative of the French Embassy in Cuba, made a presentation on the FEF CUBA SystemAgrOH project: "Sustainable management of food systems and co-innovation in Cuba, as part of the One Health approach". She explained the general and specific objectives and the expected results of the project and how they will be managed.
Subsequently, Dr.C. Odalys Uffo Reinosa, coordinator of component 3 "Capacity building in the agrifood sector based on agroecology and circular economy focused on the One Health approach", presented the objectives, planned activities, performance, result and impact indicators, as well as the schedule of activities, which allowed a better understanding of the component's objectives. Participants had the opportunity to express their criteria on the different activities planned, the benefits of bioproducts and the need to link producers with the Entomophagous and Entomopathogenic Reproduction Centers (CREEs) and thus guaranteeing production, diversification and prioritizing the use of locally applicable bioinputs, or artisan productions, but always meeting the appropriate quality requirements. It was emphasized that these ways of acting will contribute to strengthening local capacities and the exchange of knowledge between academia and producers. The empirical learning approach was encouraged, involving decision-makers at different levels in the training and linking students, in order to promote agricultural culture among children and young people. The producers expressed their gratitude for having been considered to be part of this initiative and shared their diverse experiences that could enrich future training, either in situ (preferably) or ex situ. It was agreed that the most enriching aspect of the training process to be carried out in the short term will be the exchange of experiences among the producers.
In order to establish a baseline for the component, an initial anonymous survey was conducted to determine the participants' level of knowledge regarding One Health, agroecological management, project development, etc. Afterwards, Dr.C. Mayra G. Rodríguez Hernández made a presentation on "Soil and pests on the "One Health" approach: agroecological management of health problems in both domains as a contribution to the development of Local Food Systems". The exchange was encouraged and those present recognized the importance and usefulness of the contents discussed.
In the afternoon session, MSc. Silvia Hernández Delgado moderated a participatory exercise to identify training gaps in the topics referred to in the morning, which will serve as a guide for the design of the following training workshops. In these workshops, the results of the surveys that will be conducted as an initial diagnosis of the agroecosystems in the work scenarios will be analyzed, from the productive, economic, social and environmental points of view, in order to measure the impact of the actions to be implemented for their transformation.
This initial workshop is the starting point for the creation of cognitive capacities to generate adequate attitudes towards agricultural and livestock practices, from early warning to risks, as well as for the management and prevention/control of pests and diseases, in favor of environmental sustainability and One Health. It is intended to promote the manufacture of bio-products and their commercialization/use.
In a subsequent stage, the multidimensional agroecological performance of the agroecosystems of interest will be evaluated during the course of actions to assess their impact, using a tool designed for this purpose. Finally, the design of development and innovation projects based on a participatory approach will be promoted, in order to generate scientific, technological, economic, social and environmental impacts influencing sustainable food production in agricultural systems, based on agroecology and the One Health approach, and also enhancing the circular economy. The final results will contribute to the current policies for the development of local agricultural systems in the municipalities to meet the objectives of the Law on Food Sovereignty and Food and Nutritional Security (SSAN).
To conclude, the University of Artemisa Dean, MSc. Adianez Fernández Bermúdez, thanked everyone for their participation in the Workshop, promoted the continuity of the actions to be developed in it and invited the attendees to visit historical places in Artemisa province. This activity took place on Saturday 15th with a visit to the Mueso de Cafetales Angerona and the Mausoleum of the Martyrs of Artemisa.