Despite fertile soils and tropical climate, Cuba imports 80% of its food.

Omissions

• The claim presents 80% as a precise fixed figure, whereas authoritative sources (IFAD, WFP) consistently express Cuba's food import dependency as a range — typically 70% to 80% or 'up to 80%' — reflecting year-to-year variation and measurement uncertainty.
• The MEP did not cite a time period or source. The most recent available data before the session date (from the first nine months of 2025, reported by Havana Times) indicates the share exceeds 80%, but this is a single journalistic source rather than an official statistics office figure.
• No primary statistical source (such as FAO Food Balance Sheets or Cuba's Oficina Nacional de Estadística e Información) was located within the search constraints to precisely confirm the 80% figure. The sources found are UN agency country profiles and journalism.

Sources

• PrimaryIFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development)Cuba imports up to 80 per cent of its food requirements.
• SecondaryWorld Food Program USACuba imports 70 to 80 percent of its domestic food requirements, with most imports slated for social protection programs.
• SecondaryHavana TimesDuring the first nine months of 2025, Cuba imported $355 [million]... Today, Cuba relies on imports for more than 80% of its basic food needs.