Cuban science contributes new result to food sovereignty

Cuban science contributes new result to food sovereignty
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Fecha de publicación: 
29 September 2020
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Havana, Sep 29 (Prensa Latina) The large-scale application of a project of transgenic hybrid corn in Cuba, achieved by the scientific, technological and innovative system, is a major contribution to the country's goal of achieving food sovereignty.
 
That crop, which is used as animal feed, was presented at the latest meeting between President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero and the group of experts involved in the Food Sovereignty and Nutritional Education Program.

According to the website of the Presidency, participants at the meeting highlighted the higher yields obtained from that seed, which can produce up to nine tons per hectare under optimal conditions.

This transgenic hybrid corn, which resulted from the work by several research institutions and productive units, under the leadership of the Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Center (CIGB), was approved by a group of private and state producers, who cultivated it in their lands.

According to Doctor in Sciences Mario Pablo Estrada, CIGB Agricultural Research director, in order to achieve this variety, the seeds with the best potential worldwide were used.

The crop is also environmentally sustainable, withstands the most used herbicide to control weeds and is appropriate to the legal framework that governs development and the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in Cuba, which complies with the rules on the use of GMOs, and there was consensus at the meeting about the use of the CIGB's variety to use it as animal feed.

In that regard, President Miguel Diaz-Canel pointed out that we have 'to work on several alternatives at the same time, each one on its scenario, in its environment', making emphasis on the use of agri-ecology.

According to the National Statistics and Information Office, Cuba spent one billion dollars in the past five years to buy corn on the international market, one of the reasons why experts are searching for higher yields of national products.

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