In the industrialized world, sustainable agriculture has remained a fringe agricultural experiment, unable to provide a large-scale alternative model. Cuba provides a case study of a massive agricultural shift to sustainable farming brought about by economic crisis. In 2009, 31 farmers and 6 key informants from 4 provinces in Cuba were interviewed and 12 women participated in a participant driven photography project about their involvement in small-scale agroecological farming. The research found that the inability to purchase imported chemicals and fertilizers has encouraged farmers to innovate their own solutions to maintaining soil, plant, animal and ecosystem health. Institutional support through academic institutions and non-government organizations is facilitating the spread of agroecological education through farmer-to-farmer exchanges. Economically, farming as a profession provides a fair income; although, farmers’ wealth was tied to other industries in their respective regions, and influenced by tourism. The need for housing and land tenure are large barriers, but the government’s opening up of land for farming in usufruct has been a successful strategy for encouraging new farmers. Allowing for subsistence growing, has been historically and is currently an important incentive. Cooperatives allow for the distribution of scarce inputs, provide educational and social opportunities for farmers and can provide retirement benefits, administrative and legal help. However, women tend to participate less in cooperatives, and traditional household roles and machismo are still an undercurrent in the Cuban countryside. Cuba’s agricultural story is rich in lessons that can be applied globally, learned from its requirement to respond quickly to change during economic crisis. These lessons are simple; productivity and happiness increase with worker autonomy, support from government and institutions works better when it is participatory, and social groups whether cooperatives, family or neighbourhoods, provide an essential human support system. / Graduate / 0366 / 0453 / 0473 / 0733 / lisawillott@gmail.com

Literature on sustainable agriculture was examined using qualitative research methods to identify institutional barriers to the transition to sustainable agriculture, and solutions to overcome them. Information was also collected from different participants in the food and agriculture system by conducting interviews and workshops, and by soliciting comments on discussion papers of preliminary findings. / An explanatory scheme (or general theory) was developed to organize strategies for overcoming institutional barriers using an efficiency--substitution--redesign framework. Efficiency strategies involve minor changes to existing activities, resulting in more efficient resource use. Substitution strategies involve replacing one product, technique or activity with another. Redesign strategies require solutions and institutional activities that mimic ecological processes. Solutions consistent with each category are analyzed and discussed in the areas of research, education, technology transfer, government programs and regulations, taxation, safety nets, consumer activism, marketing and advertising, corporate legal status, and organizational design and management.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Murdoch University, 2003. / Thesis submitted to the Division of Science and Engineering. Bibliography: p. 433-481.

Thesis (M.App.Sc.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Science, Discipline of Soil and Land Systems, 2004. / "March, 2004" Bibliography: p. 112-136.

Thesis(M.S.)--Auburn University, 2005. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 204-223). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.A. (Anthropology)) -- University of Pretoria, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references.

Zugl.: Hohenheim, University, Diss., 2008.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Catholic University, Nijmegen, 2001. / Title from initial PDF page image (viewed Feb. 16, 2005). "April, 2001." Includes bibliographical references (p. 155-166). Also issued in print format.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Flinders University, School of Medicine. / Typescript bound. Includes bibliographical references: (leaves 190-203) Also available electronically.