NUTRITION

Food security. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) published a report on April 28 that analyzes the food situation in Latin America and the Caribbean in the context of the spread of COVID-19. It also gives a series of recommendations to the countries of the region to reduce the impact of the pandemic on the food sector. For example, it suggests maintaining school feeding programmes and encouraging home delivery of food. It is expected that States will promote these practices for the duration of the pandemic. 

FAO considers that the region has enough food reserves to cover the needs of the population during the coming months. However, the agency expects that the region’s food systems will be affected by changes in supply, demand and international food trade.

Some of FAO’s recommendations to the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean are: to officially declare that actions related to food and agriculture are activities of national interest; to continue with school feeding programmes and expand plans for access to food for the most vulnerable population; and that the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC, in Spanish) reactivate the Food and Nutritional Security Plan 2025 and adapt it to the new international context; and additionally, to promote the exchange of food and technical cooperation among the countries of the region.

Next steps

The report published by FAO on the situation in Latin America and the Caribbean states that while the region is well enough provisioned with food, changes in food supply and demand will affect its food systems. Therefore, FAO recommends that States maintain school feeding programmes and promote home delivery of food. States are expected to encourage these practices for the duration of the pandemic.