This increase represents a paradox, considering that the region can produce food for almost twice the population, reminded the deputy director general and regional representative of this organization Mario Lubetkin.
The official made the statements while presenting the report “Regional Panorama of Food and Nutrition Security in Latin America and the Caribbean,” which includes the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Pan American Health Organization, the World Food Program and the United Nations Children’s Fund.
“Latin America and the Caribbean is going through an unprecedented situation of food insecurity, with projections that are not encouraging,” Lubetkin said.
He pointed out that the region has suffered the effects of a series of crises that have resulted in increasing hunger and malnutrition in all its forms.
Among them he mentioned the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, the serious economic situation and war in Europe, mainly due to the price development of oils, vegetables, grains and fertilizers.
Lubetkin cited a recent report by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean that 201 million people in the region live in poverty, 32.1 percent of the total population.
The region has the highest cost of healthy eating compared to other geographic areas, and 131 million people do not have access to it because of its high prices.
A healthy diet guarantees a balanced amount of fruit, vegetables, grains, animal products, legumes, seeds, oils and fats.
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