Cuban Agricultural Insights Drive Gender Equity in Academia

Efforts to promote gender equity in the agricultural sciences are gaining momentum through a unique collaboration between researchers from the University of Guelph in Canada and agricultural experts in Cuba. The project, which spans four years, aims to enhance inclusion in academia by leveraging knowledge exchange and farmer-led research.

Dr. Erin Nelson, the lead researcher and professor in the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences, highlights the importance of diverse perspectives in agricultural research. “Women often bring a different lens to agricultural science. When we diversify perspectives, we have better, more relevant research,” she remarks. The project seeks to shift the traditionally male-dominated landscape of agricultural academia, where research has historically been driven by men.

Cuba’s commitment to gender inclusivity in agricultural research at the farm level serves as a model for this initiative. Nelson notes that “We looked to their leadership in this area to take this work to the institutional level to create inclusion in agricultural academia.”

Learning from Cuban Farmers

Utilizing a participatory action research approach has allowed the team to gain insights directly from Cuban growers. Nelson emphasizes the need for Canadian researchers to appreciate the learning opportunities available from the Global South. “This project presented an important opportunity to do that,” she says. The initiative aims to develop skills, programs, and policies that enhance gender sensitivity in agricultural sciences.

To facilitate systemic change, the team has created a toolkit for institutions. This toolkit includes a gender-based violence protocol and a methodology for conducting gender analysis across various projects or departments. Additionally, they have designed a curriculum to integrate gender considerations into agricultural education programs, exploring topics such as the connection between seeds and gender roles, as well as the impact of women on food security and environmental sciences.

Cultural Shifts Towards Equity

Nelson’s work extends beyond research; it embodies a community-engaged approach focused on sustainable food systems in Canada and Latin America. The collaboration with the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Cuba has been instrumental in this project, which draws inspiration from Cuba’s pioneering efforts to eliminate educational disparities between men and women. As Ruiz Cuartas from the institute states, “Women have unique skills, talents, perspectives to offer. This project is about lifting that up.”

Research demonstrates that women in plant breeding prioritize factors related to household food security, ecological sustainability, and resilience, while men tend to focus primarily on yields. These differing viewpoints influence leadership roles and policymaking in agriculture, shaping educational priorities as well.

The project’s impact is evident, with 17 agricultural science students from participating institutions now integrating gender issues into their thesis research. This marks a significant increase from zero students addressing these topics over the past decade. Nelson emphasizes that achieving gender equity requires profound cultural changes, which necessitate time and a commitment to international solidarity in agricultural research and ecological farming.

A key feature of the project is a documentary titled Cubao is Theirs, set to screen at 16:30 on March 12, 2024, at the University of Guelph. The film showcases the stories of four female Cuban farmers whose engagement in the research has empowered them to become leaders within their communities.

Plans for future networking events aim to bring together Cuban and Canadian farmers, sharing the project’s insights with broader audiences outside the academic realm. “A lot of seeds have been planted for the future,” Nelson concludes, reflecting the hope and potential for lasting change in the agricultural sciences.

This research initiative has received funding from the International Development Research Centre, reinforcing the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing gender equity globally.