Main description:

Latin America and the Caribbean face the challenge of providing healthy, diversified and sufficient food for their populations. First, the region must find a solution to feed the 42.5 million people who are still hungry. Second, it has to address the growing problem of overweight and obesity, which afflict more than 300 million people from all age groups.

It is necessary to promote healthy eating patterns, as improper diets increase the risk of developing noncommunicable diseases as well as the probability of premature death. It is currently estimated that one out of every six deaths in the region stems from inappropriate consumption habits that lead to cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.

Promoting true development therefore requires the guarantee of an adequate healthy diet. This can only be achieved through the commitment of States, which is why governments of the region have begun to implement measures to guide the production, distribution, marketing, processing and consumption of food. However, public action alone is insufficient. The transformation of food systems requires the active involvement of the private sector, parliaments, academia, civil society, and consumers.