The Ministries of Agriculture of Cuba and São Tomé and Príncipe signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in agroecology and development activities with other members of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries Community (CPLP).

In this context, and with the aim of strengthening the capacities of Cuban technicians, farmers and developing courses for all the African countries of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries. FAO plans to initiate activities with the Capacity Building Center for Sustainable Agriculture for Family Farming of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries and Cuban experts prior to the end of this year.

"The world is changing, there is growing awareness of the damage to health and to family farmers of the current food production model, and we believe that Cuba can support many countries in conquering their food sovereignty, taking São Tomé e Príncipe as a platform -" said Francisco Ramos, São Tomé e Príncipe's minister of agriculture.

Cuba has strong historical relations of cooperation with the island located in the Gulf of Guinea and is currently seeking to strengthen partnerships in the agricultural sector by promoting agroecological production, as a basis for cooperation agreements that could be extended in the Community of Portuguese Language Countries.

São Tomé and Príncipe has about a quarter of its agricultural land devoted to certified organic production and is the African country with the highest percentage of their agricultural land devoted to organic production and the third largest in the world. Its agriculture contributes around 20 % of the nation's GDP and 80 % of the country's export earnings, providing jobs for more than half of the population.

The government of São Tomé and Príncipe recently approved the 100% Bio strategy, with the aim of promoting and safeguarding organic and agroecological agriculture in the country.