FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean

Better Nutrition

According to the latest figures from FAO, the world is far from achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger by 2030. Although global hunger increased dramatically between 2019 and 2021, it has remained at similar levels until 2023, with higher rates than before the pandemic.

Today, progress is being seen, especially in Latin America. However, hunger continues to rise in the Caribbean. While the progress is encouraging, 41 million people in the region still suffer from hunger. The transition toward healthy diets and improved food security and nutrition for the most vulnerable is a regional priority.

This pillar seeks to eradicate hunger, achieve food security, and improve nutrition in all its forms, by promoting nutritious foods and increasing access to healthy diets through five priority programmatic areas (Healthy diets for all; Nutrition for the most vulnerable; Safe food for all; Reduction of food loss and waste; and Transparent markets).

Programme Priority Areas
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Brazil, Kenya and Sweden underlined the importance of partnerships and financing to strengthen school meals programmes during the annual meeting of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS).

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The “School Feeding in Focus” exchange cycle, promoted by FAO and the Government of Brazil, addressed the different components necessary to ensure the sustainability of school feeding.

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In a three-day meeting, countries discussed more effective strategies for measuring food losses and thus reducing the social and economic impacts on supply chains.

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Through a social media challenge, the #SinDesperdicioChallenge seeks to inspire households across the region to make the most of their food and reduce waste.

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During an international meeting in Manaus, representatives from 15 countries learned firsthand about the experience of the National School Feeding Programme in the state of Amazonas, where public procurement from family and Indigenous farmers strengthens food security, respects cultural diversity, and promotes sustainable local development.

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The RAES is a joint initiative between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) and the National Fund for Educational Development (FNDE).

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The initiative is part of the 2nd annual call for AMR data in animals and food for the International FAO Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring (InFARM) System.

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The new project of the Brazil–FAO International Cooperation Program will provide USD 500,000 for technical cooperation to the member countries of the SPAA Network.

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The School Feeding Network was launched in 2018 as part of a joint agreement between Brazilian Cooperation, the National Fund for Education Development (FNDE), and the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC), with technical support and executive secretariat from FAO. Today, it is present in 18 countries across the region.

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The Science in Action Seminar highlighted applications of artificial intelligence and social sciences to strengthen evidence-based policy decision-making in favor of safe food.

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Under the executive secretariat of FAO, the Sustainable School Feeding Network (RAES) is a Brazilian government initiative currently comprising 17 countries. Its participation in the Global Alliance aims to strengthen school feeding in the region

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The CELAC Ministers of Agriculture reviewed the Plan's results and progress one year after it was updated

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Climate variability and extreme weather events (such as droughts, floods, and storms) are reducing agricultural productivity, disrupting food supply chains, increasing prices, impacting food environments, and threatening progress in reducing hunger and malnutrition in the region

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With these simple steps, you can reduce the amount of food that ends up in the trash, contributing to the fight against hunger and malnutrition

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Parliamentarians' commitment to building more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems was reinforced during the “Parliaments for Food” meeting, organized by the National Congress of Honduras, FAO and Spanish Cooperation

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In the report, the organizations warn that the cost of not addressing this issue could be almost six times greater than the cost of working to improve access to healthy diets in Latin America and the Caribbean.

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30 Latin American and Caribbean countries ratified the document at a ministerial level to contribute to the region's efforts to eliminate hunger and reduce malnutrition.

Key document
 Follow the Conversation

2/12

2025

Virtual Event, 02/12/2025

Local public procurement of food from smallholder farmers is a strategic tool that contributes to food security and nutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean. In a region marked by inequalities, rural poverty, and the high cost of healthy diets, this public policy is able to link state demand with local supply, promoting more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agri-food syst...

22/10

2025

Metropolitan City of Rome Capital (Italy), Hybrid Event, 22/10/2025

School Meals Programmes are key strategies to address food insecurity and malnutrition, especially among school-age children and adolescents. 

29/9

2025

1/10

2025

Virtual Event, 29/09/2025 - 01/10/2025

Did you know that 13% of food was lost in 2021 between harvest or collection and its arrival on the shelves? This equates to 931 million tons or 120 kilograms per capita.

Publications
29/03/2024

The CELAC plan for food security, nutrition and the eradication of hunger 2030 consists of three chapters.

26/04/2024

There are different proposals for policies and interventions to address these problems jointly as a region and for each country. However, the proposals for policies and interventions do not include how to finance the actions needed to eliminate hunger and combat malnutrition. This document presents a first approach to the issue of the financing needed for the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms in the region.

01/02/2024

This study responds to the proposal made by the Secretariat of the Central American Agricultural Council (SECAC) and the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA) on the need to promote spaces for integration in the area of agrifood trade between Central America and the Caribbean.

Relationship with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Contact

Daniela Godoy

Senior Policy Officer (Food Security and Nutrition)

Better Nutrition Regional Priority Coordinator