How is Brazil facing the crisis of Food and Nutrition Security during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Abstract The goal of this commentary is to expose the situation of Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) in Brazil in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic by providing a critical analysis of this scenario and suggesting ways to move forward. When COVID-19 arrived in Brazil, a crisis scenario that incorporated economic, social and political aspects became highly visible. This scenario fostered unemployment, poverty and hunger. Besides that, it exposed multiple vulnerabilities that were getting worse over the past few years prior to the pandemic. In this context, COVID-19 found in Brazil a fertile ground for its dissemination and community transmission. The impacts of the suspension of many commercial activities and other economic sectors due to the pandemic were quickly felt socially and economically in Brazil. Some of the actions carried out by the Brazilian government included the emergency aid payment and exemption from payment of energy bills for vulnerable individuals, release of funds for programmes for the direct purchase of food from family farmers, delivery of school food kits directly to students despite the closure of schools and publication of sanitary rules for the operation of restaurants. However, these actions are still insufficient, slow and not sufficiently coordinated to contain the progress of the food and nutritional insecurity crisis in Brazil. The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the urgency for the Brazilian government to again prioritise the FNS agenda. This includes implementing mechanisms to ensure the Human Right to Adequate Food and expanding existing FNS programmes.

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Government-Subsidized Restaurants as promoters of the realization of the Human Right to Adequate Food: Proposal of an evaluation model

Revista de Nutrição ◽

10.1590/1678-9865201932e180193 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 32 ◽

Author(s):

Juliana Theodora Cunha OLIVEIRA ◽

Cristine Garcia GABRIEL ◽

Mick Lennon MACHADO ◽

Marinez Fregulia RÉOS ◽

Claudia SOAR ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Security Policy ◽

Evaluation Model ◽

Two Dimensions ◽

Human Right ◽

Logical Model ◽

Food And Nutrition Security ◽

Nutrition Security ◽

Adequate Food ◽

Food And Nutrition ◽

Evaluation Matrix

ABSTRACT Objective This article presents an evaluation model for Government-Subsidized Restaurants within the framework of the National Food and Nutrition Security Policy. Methods This is an evaluation study. The Evaluation Matrix was elaborated from five stages: systematized revision for elaboration of the theoretical-logical model; immersion process; construction of the preliminary theoretical-logical model; consensus workshops, through the traditional committee technique; elaboration of the evaluation matrix proposal; and external consensus with specialists in the subject and in the implementation and management of Government-Subsidized Restaurants. Results The proposed matrix contemplates two dimensions: Political-Organizational, with the subdimensions: Management, Structure and Target Public; and Technical-Operational, with the sub-dimensions: Adequate Food, Food and Nutrition Education, and Extended Public Assistance. Twenty-four indicators and 29 measures were listed. Conclusion The findings point to the need for advances in evaluation methodologies that contemplate Food and Nutrition Security as the guiding principle of the actions performed by Government-Subsidized Restaurants. Thus, the evaluation matrix presented aims to contribute to the improvement of the GSR as a multifunctional tool, promoter of Food and Nutrition Security and the realization of the Human Right to Adequate Food within the National Food and Nutrition Security Policy.

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Public policies of food and nutrition in Brazil: From Lula to Temer

Revista de Nutrição ◽

10.1590/1678-9865201932e180161 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 32 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Francisco de Assis Guedes de VASCONCELOS ◽

Mick Lennon MACHADO ◽

Maria Angélica Tavares de MEDEIROS ◽

José Anael NEVES ◽

Elisabetta RECINE ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Security Policy ◽

Poverty Reduction ◽

Public Policies ◽

School Nutrition ◽

Budget Cuts ◽

Eradication Program ◽

Food And Nutrition Security ◽

Nutrition Security ◽

Adequate Food ◽

Food And Nutrition

ABSTRACT Objective To analyze public policies on food and nutrition in Brazil, with emphasis on the last fifteen years (2003-2018). Methods Historical-documentary analysis based on a bibliographical survey on indexed bases and exploratory visits to websites of government agencies. Results The scientific and governmental findings were organized according to the Lula, Dilma and Temer governments. They explore the development of several public policies and welfare programs in food and nutrition, focusing mainly on Brazilian Hunger Eradication Program, Assistance for Needy Families Program, National Policy on Food and Nutrition Security, Food Acquisition Program, National School Nutrition Program, National Food and Nutrition Security Policy, National Food and Nutrition Surveillance System and Brazilian Misery Eradication Program. The centrality of the idea of the fight against hunger and misery in public policies during Lula’s first and second terms and Dilma’s first term stand out. Dilma’s second term is marked by the focus on healthy eating, as well as presenting the first signs of fragilization of public policies on food and nutrition. Currently, the Temer government is characterized by processes of institutional and programmatic rupture, budget cuts and setbacks in acquired rights. There is evidence of the need to activate national and international instruments to enforce the human right to adequate food and consequent strengthening of public policies on food and nutrition. Conclusion This period presents an expansion and qualification of public policies on food and nutrition, mainly in the Lula and Dilma administration, with setbacks in the Temer administration, in which continuous budget cuts weaken social, hunger reduction, poverty reduction and food and nutrition security policies.

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A life-cycle approach to food and nutrition security in India

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980014001037 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 944-949 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Rajesh Kumar Rai ◽

Sandhya Kumar ◽

Madhushree Sekher ◽

Bill Pritchard ◽

Anu Rammohan

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Life Cycle ◽

Citizen Participation ◽

Distribution System ◽

Poor Performance ◽

Life Cycle Approach ◽

Food And Nutrition Security ◽

Nutrition Security ◽

Adequate Food ◽

Food And Nutrition

AbstractIndia’s poor performance on critical food and nutrition security indicators despite substantial economic prosperity has been widely documented. These failings not only hamper national progress, but also contribute significantly to the global undernourished population, particularly children. While the recently passed National Food Security Act 2013 adopts a life-cycle approach to expand coverage of subsidized food grains to the most vulnerable households and address food security, there remains much to be desired in the legislation. Access to adequate food for 1·24 billion people is a multifaceted problem requiring an interconnected set of policy measures to tackle the various factors affecting food and nutrition security in India. In the present opinion paper, we discuss a fivefold strategy that incorporates a life-cycle approach, spanning reproductive health, bolstering citizen participation in existing national programmes, empowering women, advancing agriculture and better monitoring the Public Distribution System in order to fill the gaps in both access and adequacy of food and nutrition.

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Strategic evaluation of the Food and Nutrition Security Plan of the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil

Revista de Nutrição ◽

10.1590/1678-98652018000600010 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (6) ◽

pp. 617-630

Author(s):

Mick Lennon MACHADO ◽

Cristine Garcia GABRIEL ◽

Josimari Telino de LACERDA ◽

Patrícia Maria de Oliveira MACHADO

Keyword(s):

Universal Access ◽

The State ◽

Strategic Analysis ◽

Santa Catarina ◽

Food And Nutrition Security ◽

Nutrition Security ◽

Adequate Food ◽

Food And Nutrition ◽

Evaluation And Monitoring ◽

And Training

ABSTRACT Objective A strategic analysis was carried out in order to verify the relevance of the Food and Nutrition Security Plan of the state of Santa Catarina to the Brazilian concept of Food and Nutrition Security. Methods A matrix containing 7 dimensions, 16 sub-dimensions and 35 indicators was used for the evaluation, which were evaluated as poor, regular, good and excellent for each component. Results The Plan was evaluated as being of good relevance to its objective. However, it was only relevant to 53% of the analyzed dimensions, and the dimension of promoting universal access to adequate food had the worst result. The dimensions of developing permanent processes of education, research and training, and of evaluation and monitoring, obtained the best results, with the Plan being evaluated as of good relevance to these dimensions. Still, for half of the sub-dimensions and for 60% of the analyzed indicators, the Plan was evaluated as poor or regular. Conclusion It is hoped that the results of this research can qualify the Plan researched, as well as stimulate reflections for the construction of Plans in the other Brazilian states.

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INSEGURANÇA ALIMENTAR E NUTRICIONAL NO DIÁRIO DE UMA FAVELADA: CAROLINA MARIA DE JESUS EM SEU QUARTO DE DESPEJO

Revista Interdisciplinar de Estudos em Saúde ◽

10.33362/ries.v8i1.1469 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 100-115 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Viviany Moura Chaves ◽

Michelle Medeiros Jacob

Keyword(s):

Social Vulnerability ◽

Point Of View ◽

Human Condition ◽

The Body ◽

Human Right ◽

Nutrition Security ◽

Adequate Food ◽

Food And Nutrition ◽

Carolina Maria De Jesus ◽

Object Of Knowledge

A literatura traz possibilidades de estudos para compreender fenômenos ligados à condição humana. A obra Quarto de despejo, da autora Carolina Maria de Jesus, foi utilizada como objeto de conhecimento, como corpus de pesquisa para compreender o fenômeno da fome, sob a ótica da Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional. Para alcançar o objetivo deste estudo, foi realizada a leitura integral da obra, bem como a elaboração de um arquivo digital que subsidiou a posterior análise dos dados. Os resultados encontrados na investigação foram sistematizados em três tópicos de análises: a fome é tratada como uma iniquidade social, sendo desvelada através da violação do Direito Humano à Alimentação Adequada; o corpo e a mente padecem sob as densas penalidades da fome; e come-se, bebe-se, vive-se em um espaço insalubre: a favela o quarto de despejo da humanidade. Acredita-se que refletir sobre este fenômeno alimentar possibilita adentrar num imaginário denso de significações que vai além de interpretações objetivas.Palavras-chave: Insegurança Alimentar e Nutricional. Fome. Vulnerabilidade social. Literatura. FOOD INSECURITY IN THE DIARY OF A SLUM: CAROLINA MARIA DE JESUS ON HER QUARTO DE DESPEJOABSTRACT: The Literature offers possibilities of studies to understand phenomena linked to the human condition. The book Quarto de despejo, of the author, Carolina Maria de Jesus, was used as an object of knowledge as a corpus of research to understand the phenomenon of hunger, from the point of view of Food and Nutrition Security. In order to reach the objective of this study, a complete reading of the work was done, as well as the elaboration of a digital file that subsidized the subsequent analysis of the data. The results found in the research were systematized in three topics of analysis: hunger is treated as a social inequity, being unveiled through the violation of the Human Right to Adequate Food; The body and mind suffer under the dense hardships of hunger; And eats, drinks, lives in an unhealthy space: the favela is the dumping ground of humanity. It is believed that reflecting on this food phenomenon makes it possible to enter into a dense imagery of meanings that goes beyond objective interpretations.Keywords: Food and Nutritional Insecurity. Hunger. Social Vulnerability. Literature.

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What is the food and nutrition security situation of Santa Catarina municipalities? Results of a multidimensional assessment

Revista de Nutrição ◽

10.1590/1678-9865202033e190267 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 33 ◽

Author(s):

Amanda de Araújo Figueredo GUEDES ◽

Mick Lennon MACHADO ◽

Milena Corrêa MARTINS ◽

Barbara Leone SILVA ◽

Patrícia Maria de Oliveira MACHADO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Universal Access ◽

Careful Examination ◽

Santa Catarina ◽

Sustainable Food ◽

Food And Nutrition Security ◽

Nutrition Security ◽

Adequate Food ◽

Food And Nutrition ◽

The Matrix ◽

Municipal Level

ABSTRACT Objective To describe the food and nutrition security situation of all municipalities of a Brazilian state. Methods The investigation was conducted using an assessment matrix developed through consensus workshops. The matrix is composed of 7 dimensions, 11 subdimensions, 27 indicators, and 59 items. Data were collected at the municipal level from different public databases using the state of Santa Catarina as the case study basis. Municipalities were classified according to their food and nutrition security situation as poor, fair, good, or excellent. Results Of the 295 Santa Catarina municipalities, 65.4% were rated as poor or fair in terms of food and nutrition security. The best-rated dimension was Continuing education, research, and training in food and nutrition security, followed by Agroecological production and sustainable food supply and Universal access to water and sanitation. The dimensions with the worst results were Food and nutrition at all levels of healthcare, Universal access to adequate food, and Assessment and monitoring. The dimension Traditional peoples and communities could not be evaluated because data were not available at the municipal level. Conclusion This study evidenced the need for a careful examination of the reality of Santa Catarina municipalities, as it made it possible to qualitatively characterize public policies within the context of food and nutrition security. The findings may contribute to the debate on evaluation and assist managers in strengthening food and nutrition security policies in Brazilian municipalities.

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Do transgenic food fulfill the obligations of respecting food security and nutritional concept in a developing country?

Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional ◽

10.20396/san.v25i3.8649795 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 59-70

Author(s):

Elaine Gomes Fiore ◽

Cristiane Tavares Matias ◽

Fabiane Alessandra Bee ◽

Mariangela Almeida

Keyword(s):

Developing Country ◽

Production Control ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Human Right ◽

Nutritional Security ◽

Nutrition Security ◽

Adequate Food ◽

Food And Nutrition ◽

Food And Nutritional Security ◽

Transgenic Food

This study seeks to identify if this developing country fulfills the obligations of respecting the Food and Nutritional Security when producing and commercializing transgenic foods. A bibliographic research was carried. The objective was to respond to the fulfillment of Food and Nutrition Security and the use of transgenics, based on the concept of Food and Nutritional Security, its interface with the Human Right to Adequate Food and the food and nutritional dimensions of the theme. Regarding the environment, the technology of transgenics, when used in a massive way for protection against insects and weeds, is not always safe. The use of certain herbicides, linked to production control, can also be deleterious. Epidemiological studies on the nutritional advantages are insufficient and the possibility of allergenicity exists, if the protocols for seed release are not considered. Lack of enforcement in these protocols and in labeling threaten Food Safety, since the population is vulnerable to the consumption of foods whose origin are not well known. Even with the transgenic food, a bigger amount of food is not available for everybody. The importance of food and nutritional education is emphasized in this study. Since the concept of Food and Nutritional Security is indivisible, we come to the conclusion that Food and Nutritional Security in a developing country is not fulfilled.

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