Cuba is facing severe food shortages due to high international food prices, limited maritime transport, and low domestic production. The country relies heavily on imports, especially wheat, which it cannot grow due to its climate. The United States embargo and the pandemic have significantly reduced the country's foreign exchange earnings. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reported a 30.8% increase in its international food price index from the previous year. The Cuban economy contracted by 11% in 2020 and is projected to shrink further in the first quarter of 2021 due to the pandemic's impact on tourism and trade.