Francisco B. Cruz: The 'Prodigal Agriculture' to Sugarcane Varietal Revolution in Cuba, 1878-1930

Abstract

Through the figure of the Cuban agronomist and scientist Francisco B. Cruz, this article explores the change in sugarcane cropping system in the late nineteenth century because of, among other factors, the failure of the model based on agriculture lavish. Besides, this article analyzes the participation of the Experimental Station in the implementation of the overall program of sugarcane varietal revolution. In this regard, he stressed the role of Francisco B. Cruz and connections with other institutional and private actors with diverse interests in the reorganization of the Cuban sugar industry. The investigation is based on documents from the stage and, crucially, the documentation of the Central Agricultural Station, now the Institute for Research in Tropical Agriculture ‘Alexander von Humboldt’.