A still worrying issue in the world, food insecurity plagues more than 70.3 million people here in Brazil alone, according to the UN, and is always an important discussion in national political statements and international debates.
This is because people in this situation are deprived of regular and adequate access to nutritious foods considered basic for a healthy life, with difficulties in obtaining quality food.
This sad scenario is generally related to issues such as poverty and social inequality, unemployment and economic instability, extreme weather events such as prolonged droughts and geographic barriers that limit access to food.
It is also worth highlighting that, unfortunately, the impacts of food insecurity go beyond the simple lack of access to food: health problems, risks to child development and humanitarian crises are all problems that, in many cases, are related to this reality.
Talking about food insecurity is more than necessary and, going beyond that, it is necessary to invest more and more in combat measures to help Brazil get off the hunger map.
This is because hunger and food insecurity are correlated themes; however, the second is more comprehensive, and brings to light urgent and current debates regarding tackling food waste, social inequalities and access to healthy and complete food in every sense.
iFood believes in the importance of talking and raising awareness about this issue — and assumes its role as a Brazilian company to work on measures to reverse this scenario.
We have separated content below to explain more about food insecurity, its types and impacts, the main challenges in our country within this discussion and, of course, what to do to combat it.
Follow below and enjoy reading!
Read too:
- What companies are doing to fight hunger
- Discover iFood’s actions to combat hunger and waste
- Advance of hunger: who are the most affected people in Brazil
What is food insecurity?
Food insecurity refers to the lack of regular and guaranteed access to food in sufficient quantity and of adequate quality for a healthy and active life.
The Organic Law on Food and Nutritional Security (Losan), of July 15, 2006, defines food security as:
“Realization of everyone’s right to regular and permanent access to quality food, in sufficient quantity. But without compromising access to other essential needs, based on health-promoting dietary practices. They respect cultural diversity and are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.”
According to data from Brazil Agency, our country has around 7 million homes where families live with a reduction in the amount of food they consume or a complete disruption of their eating patterns — a case of serious insecurity.
Unfortunately, the Pernambuco region is among one of the leading regions in food and nutritional insecurity in Brazil, with 37.5% of households experiencing this problem, as highlighted here by the Pernambuco Diary.
What is the difference between food insecurity and hunger?
They are two different concepts. Hunger is a physical sensation caused by extreme discomfort due to lack of food.
Meanwhile, food insecurity is a concept that refers to the lack of access to quality food, whether due to physical, economic, political or social aspects.
Because of this, it can even happen to people who have access to food every day.
Therefore, hunger would be one of the symptoms of food insecurity, as well as lack of access to healthy food, inability to buy food and uncertainty about whether one will have a next meal.
Still, it is disheartening to think that, currently, about 783 million people in the world are suffering from hunger, and we waste around 1 billion meals a day across the planet.
Types of food insecurity
O IBGE Since 2003, the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (EBIA) has been used to draw up diagnoses of national food security, as well as to help understand the concept with studies and new classifications.
In one of the classifications made by IBGE, this situation is divided into three degrees, and is thus used to provide strategic information in the management of public policies that identify and quantify the groups belonging to these categories.
Light
Mild food insecurity refers to a situation in which people have occasional or occasional concerns about access to food.
In this context, difficulties may be related to the quantity, quality, variety or regularity of food available for consumption.
It is important to highlight that mild food insecurity is generally not a chronic or persistent condition, but rather a transitory situation that can be overcome with budget adjustment strategies, food planning, search for additional resources or temporary support from social or community food support programs. .
However, if not properly addressed, this form of food insecurity can evolve into more serious levels if it persists for prolonged periods.
Moderate
Moderate food insecurity is a more pronounced stage in relation to mild food insecurity and is associated with more significant restrictions on access to food.
Here, people face more persistent challenges in obtaining food in sufficient quantities and of adequate quality to meet their nutritional needs and dietary preferences.
Moderate food insecurity can affect several population groups, including children, the elderly, people with disabilities, informal workers, rural and urban communities in situations of socioeconomic vulnerability.
To face this challenge, integrated approaches are needed that include supportive public policies, social food programs, nutritional education, inclusive economic development and strengthening food and nutritional security networks.
Serious
Severe food insecurity is the most extreme and worrying form of food insecurity, characterized by the chronic and persistent lack of access to food in sufficient quantity and of adequate quality to meet people's basic nutritional needs.
At this stage, food shortages are severe, leading to malnutrition, hunger and significant impacts on the health and well-being of affected populations.
What are the causes of food insecurity?
This is a phenomenon arising from socioeconomic order, historical and structural issues.
For each country, a different reality. The reason can vary across many dimensions. However, we can mention some of the main causes of food insecurity:
- Unemployment;
- Economic crisis;
- Climate changes;
- Scarcity of resources;
- Supply problems;
- Unequal distribution of income.
The more causative factors a country has, the higher the rates of undernutrition and malnutrition and, consequently, food insecurity.
Second UN report Raised in the 2021 pandemic, but which is used as a reference to this day, the most impactful causes for nations are conflicts, economic crises, and high inequality.
Brazil is one of the main food producers in the world and the third largest grain producer, according to Summit Agro; However, the number of families going hungry in the country is still growing, mainly due to the lack of access to food (a symptom of the population's poverty).
Furthermore, also due to food waste: Brazil is one of the countries that wastes its production the most, according to the Oxford committee for hunger relief.
Consequences of food insecurity
The main consequences of food insecurity are the impacts on the individual's health and well-being.
This is because, when we do not have access to nutritious food, we run the risk of developing some problems, such as malnutrition and other diseases.
Furthermore, in the case of children, food insecurity can affect their physical and cognitive development, even harming their academic development and their future.
Lack of access to fresh, healthy foods can also contribute to chronic health problems such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
Food insecurity can also have negative social and economic impacts, increasing the vulnerability of communities and affecting the productivity and economic stability of entire regions.
Current scenario of food insecurity in Brazil
Food insecurity in Brazil reached 59.4% of the country's households, according to survey carried out by researchers from the Free University of Berlin, in partnership with the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and the University of Brasília (UnB) in November and December 2020.
When observed within the classifications of food insecurity, the survey data indicates that 31.7% of those interviewed are in a mild state; 12.7% moderate and 15% severe.
When analyzing regions of the country, the National Child Food and Nutrition Study (Enani 2019) points out that the North (61.4%) and Northeast (59.7%) regions are those that suffer most from food insecurity in Brazil.
What are the challenges to reducing food insecurity in Brazil?
The data indicates that the Brazilian situation is worrying. Seven years ago, in 2014, the FAO announced in the Annual Report on the State of Food and Nutritional Security in the World that the country had left the Hunger Map.
At the time, Mapa, a large document organized by UN criteria that investigates the scenario of hunger in the world, pointed out that in Brazil the percentage of the population in a situation of malnutrition was below 5%.
Today, however, after changes in the criteria for producing this document, it is difficult to say whether or not Brazil is back on the Hunger Map.
However, a study of Penssan Network points out that the severe Brazilian food insecurity index (hunger) reached 9% at the end of 2020.
Since then, this index has fluctuated a lot and, currently, 64.2 million homes experience food insecurity at some level, according to data released by the newspaper Newspaper.
To combat food insecurity and hunger, action is needed to address the causes of these increases.
How to combat food insecurity?
Combating food insecurity is a complex task that requires integrated approaches and coordinated action at different levels, from public policies to local and individual initiatives.
Here are some key strategies to help address food insecurity:
Promotion of sustainable agriculture
Investing in sustainable agricultural practices, such as organic farming, agroecology and crop diversification, is an interesting way to combat this scenario.
Here, it is worth supporting small farmers and family farming, providing access to resources, technologies and markets, as well as encouraging local production of nutritious foods and culturally relevant.
Strengthening social food programs
It is also important to expand and strengthen school feeding programs, especially to ensure nutritious meals for school-age children.
On this topic, other good alternatives are the implementation of programs to distribute basic food baskets and soup kitchens for families in vulnerable situations.
It is also worth supporting community food security initiatives, such as community gardens and food banks.
Universal access to health and nutrition services
As we mentioned, food insecurity goes beyond just difficulty accessing food: it is also necessary to guarantee universal access to health services, including nutritional care, prevention and treatment of diet-related diseases.
It is necessary to promote nutritional education in schools, communities and workplaces, teaching healthy and balanced eating habits.
Furthermore, vitamin supplementation and food fortification should be offered, especially for vulnerable groups, such as children and pregnant women.
Inclusive economic development
Also part of the fight against food insecurity is the creation of decent employment opportunities and adequate income so that people can buy quality food.
We are talking about investing in education, professional training and entrepreneurship to promote inclusive economic development, as well as reducing income inequality and ensuring social protection for the most vulnerable.
Strengthening partnerships and international cooperation
Establishing partnerships between governments, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and civil society to implement integrated strategies to combat food insecurity is also on the list of measures to reverse this scenario.
It is necessary to cooperate internationally to share knowledge, best practices and resources in the area of food and nutritional security.
Furthermore, it is essential to support global initiatives, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include goals related to eradicating hunger and promoting food security.
Reducing food waste
This is a particularly important issue here in Brazil, and measures need to be implemented to reduce food waste at all stages of the food chain, from production to consumption.
It is also worth encouraging practices that make full use of food, such as the use of unconventional parts, adequate conservation and storage.
What actions has iFood taken to combat food insecurity?
Civil society and private institutions can do their part by combating waste and creating solutions for access to quality food for everyone through technology.
For example, iFood, a Brazilian company, joined forces with the NGO Ação da Cidadania and partner companies to redistribute surplus food in a series of actions to combat hunger.
The movement called Everyone at the Table seeks to connect the private sector and social organizations to combat food insecurity and waste.
With hundreds of tons of food donated, the aim is to put this action facilitated by Law 14,016 into further debate. It authorizes establishments that produce food to donate it, within ideal conditions of conservation and consumption.
A donation culture can contribute to combating food insecurity in a more horizontal way. In times of crisis, charitable donations gain visibility, but they need to coexist with strategies that reach the structure of the problem.
And technology is intertwined with actions to combat hunger when it facilitates donations and access to food for those in need. In 2021, iFood donated over R$7 million through a simple donation model at checkout.
With just one click, after placing your order, the customer can choose an amount and donate to partner institutions. In addition, it will involve social organizations that work with solidarity meals, donations of basic food baskets and other activities.
The problem of food insecurity is huge and everyone's responsibility: governments, public and private institutions. Charge the main structure, which is the stable economy and the reduction of inequality.
Thus, adding attitudes such as containing waste and using technology are the starting point for combating food insecurity.
We recognize our responsibility to promote significant transformations in society — and we invite you to learn more about our social impact here.
iFood's purpose is to feed the future of the world!
Food insecurity is a complex challenge that requires coordinated and integrated actions at local, national and global levels.
Investing in food and nutritional security is investing in people's well-being, reducing inequalities and building fairer and more sustainable societies.
Each of us has a role to play in finding solutions to address food insecurity and guarantee everyone's right to adequate and healthy food.
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