Archive for category: Food Security

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Women-led Community Kitchens in Peru Fight Hunger

Community Kitchens in PeruFood insecurity remains a serious challenge in Peru. In 2025, moderate or severe food insecurity affected 30.5% of the population, meaning about three in 10 people had difficulty accessing enough food in quantity or quality, according to Peru’s National Institute of Statistics and Informatics and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN). Against this backdrop, women-led community kitchens in Peru known as ollas comunes have become an important safety net for families facing hunger.

How Ollas Comunes Work

Women-led community kitchens in Peru, or ollas comunes, operate as neighborhood food spaces where volunteers organize, cook and distribute low-cost meals. In many cases, women lead this work, turning limited resources into daily meals for families, children, older adults, migrants and other vulnerable groups.

The model expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many Peruvians lost income and struggled to access food. Although many kitchens began as an emergency response, they continue to operate because food insecurity remains high. Their ability to adapt from a short-term crisis response into a lasting source of community support highlights the resilience of local volunteers and the important role ollas comunes continue to play in improving food access. By 2021, there were at least 2,000 operating in Lima.

Food Rescue and WFP Support

Following the rapid expansion of ollas comunes during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the World Food Program (WFP) launched a dedicated support project to strengthen the kitchens and improve food security. In Peru, WFP worked with partners such as Caritas, Banco de Alimentos Peru and local farmers to transport food that otherwise might have gone to waste, including potatoes, celery, strawberries, onions and grapes.

WFP and its partners distributed rescued fresh food to 2,000 ollas comunes in Lima alone, reaching hundreds of thousands of people. Through its ollas comunes project, WFP also distributed more than 8,000 metric tons of food and nonfood items, including kitchen kits, to nearly a quarter of a million people between July 2021 and July 2022.

This support addresses more than hunger. WFP also provided nutrition guidance, kitchen equipment, refrigerators, food containers and training in food safety and hygiene. These investments helped kitchens remain operational after the immediate pandemic emergency, allowing volunteers to continue serving vulnerable families while reducing food waste and improving nutrition.

Challenges Facing Community Kitchens

Peru’s Defensoría del Pueblo, or ombudsman’s office, supervised 991 ollas comunes and 2,616 comedores populares across the country. Together, these two types of food spaces served more than 200,000 users nationally — a separate, more targeted count than WFP’s broader Lima-area distribution figures above, since the two organizations tracked different programs and regions. Within that oversight sample, the supervised ollas comunes alone served 65,284 people, most of them older adults, while the comedores populares served 140,350 people, most of them women.

Although significant gaps remain, these findings have prompted renewed calls for stronger municipal investment and oversight, reflecting growing recognition of the kitchens’ importance in Peru’s food security system. The Defensoría del Pueblo found that many kitchens need stronger support from local governments, better food distribution and more oversight of public resources. About 72.5% of kitchens reported receiving no municipal support to improve equipment. The report called for action to improve the conditions of ollas comunes and comedores populares, noting their role in protecting the right to food and addressing hunger, anemia, malnutrition and other poverty-related challenges.

These findings show that community kitchens do not offer a complete solution on their own. They rely on volunteers, municipal support, equipment and steady access to food. Without these resources, women-led kitchens may struggle to meet the needs of the communities they serve.

A New Direct Purchasing Model

Peru’s Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion has introduced a pilot program that could give community kitchen members more control over food access. The ministry announced that more than 125,000 members of ollas comunes and comedores populares in metropolitan Lima will be able to purchase food directly, without intermediaries, to avoid overpricing.

The ministry said women members requested the initiative because they wanted a system that would allow them to better manage food purchases. This direct purchasing model could help kitchens stretch limited funds while reducing the risk that inflated prices will cut into meal supplies.

Looking Ahead

Women-led community kitchens in Peru show how local action can help reduce hunger during periods of crisis and economic hardship. By combining volunteer leadership, food rescue, government support and direct purchasing, ollas comunes offer one approach to improving food access in vulnerable communities.

However, their long-term success depends on continued investment. Stronger municipal support, reliable food distribution, better infrastructure and more accountability can help these kitchens remain a sustainable tool in Peru’s fight against hunger. As food insecurity continues to affect millions of Peruvians, ollas comunes show how women-led community organizing can help protect families and strengthen local resilience.

– Ben Jordan

Ben is based in Saint Louis, MO, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Rebuilding the Table: Fighting Food Insecurity in Peru

Food Insecurity in PeruThe COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted food security in Peru, leaving many without reliable access to nutrition. Peru ranked as one of the countries hit hardest by the pandemic. By July 2022, the country saw nearly 6,500 deaths per million people, surpassing every other country, according to the World Bank. Food insecurity following the pandemic remains a significant concern, and efforts are underway to address it.

Efforts to Combat Hunger

Initially, Peru addressed hunger through Action Against Hunger. In May 2023, 16.6 million people faced food insecurity, meaning more than half of the population could not access a healthy diet, based on the State of Food Security and Nutrition (SOFI) 2022 report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In Metropolitan Lima, around 80% of families experienced moderate or severe food insecurity, as reported by Action Against Hunger. Refugees and migrants are particularly vulnerable, with nearly 894,000 individuals affected, according to a 2026 ReliefWeb situation report.

By 2025, nearly 30.5% of the population experienced moderate or severe food insecurity. They lacked reliable access to enough food, facing reduced diet quality or sometimes going without eating. Rising prices have exacerbated the situation, forcing vulnerable families to alter their consumption and eating habits, making a nutrient-adequate diet unaffordable for many. Food prices have pushed the basic food basket, a fixed list of items needed to meet a household’s nutritional requirements, to 378 soles, equivalent to about $110.

Another impact of the food crisis is that 12.1% of children under 5 experience chronic malnutrition. These children have a height substantially below what is expected for their age, caused by ongoing poor nutrition, low-quality diets or recurring illness early in life.

Community Support Initiatives

Action Against Hunger addresses urgent needs and food insecurity among both the Peruvian national and migrant populations through support for community kitchens. Food insecurity affects multiple vulnerable groups, sometimes at even higher rates.

Carmen Elizabeth Castillo began running the canteen at Casa de la Esperanza shelter during the COVID-19 emergency, when Action Against Hunger became the first organization to support her and her staff. Although the shelter had dining space, it lacked staff. Castillo, with Action Against Hunger’s support, coordinated efforts with sheltered families, expanding operations from feeding 30 people to nearly 100. Action Against Hunger also trained her in kitchen management, food handling, storage, meal planning and identifying malnutrition as well as anemia in children.

Sustainable Solutions

Peru also addressed hunger through the Arequipa Nexus Institute for Food, Energy, Water and the Environment (ANIFEWE), a multiphase initiative launched in 2018 by the National University of San Agustín de Arequipa (UNSA) and Purdue University. Now in its third phase, the initiative is funded by UNSA to address key sustainability challenges for the region. As part of the project, the joint team has evaluated community greenhouses across the High Andes of Arequipa in collaboration with partners including AgroRural, local mayors’ offices, schools and civil organizations. This work aims to strengthen household nutrition, local markets and climate-resilient food production.

Julia Bello-Bravo, an assistant professor of agricultural sciences education and communication at Purdue and a co-principal investigator on the project, found through focus groups in Madrigal, Yanque and Sibayo that smallholder farmers often view organic agriculture as an extension of traditional practices rather than modern, market-driven farming — a source of pride tied to family and community well-being. The team also visited greenhouses across urban, school and rural settings to learn what was thriving, what challenges owners faced, and how residents used extra produce, while surveying households without greenhouses to understand barriers to adoption.

Gary Burniske, assistant director for program development in International Programs in Agriculture at Purdue, said the team found everything from “flourishing spaces full of leafy greens to half-abandoned frames.” Many participants received little technical advice after construction, he said, leaving them to face water shortages, high indoor temperatures, pests and labor shortages without guidance.

The greenhouses’ impact extends beyond food. Families can eat what they grow, sell surplus at markets and improve their nutrition. The project also strengthens Purdue’s global partnerships and its leadership in sustainable agriculture, with insights from the Arequipa collaboration feeding back into campus research, teaching and extension work.

Community-Level Support

The Owen Hart Foundation (OHF), established by Martha Hart in memory of her husband, the late professional wrestler Owen Hart, is another initiative that has helped Peru address hunger during and after the pandemic. OHF partners with For The Love of Children Society (FTLOCS) to deliver COVID-19 relief food supplies to villagers in Peru, providing resources such as protective gear, food and medical supplies to help vulnerable children and families. Separately, OHF has also supported committee member Ashid Bahl’s own initiative sending aid to Afghanistan, where a COVID-19-driven hunger crisis has caused severe food shortages, through his organization, For The Love of Children Society.

These efforts in Peru have already made a significant difference in food insecurity. In 2022, Peru saw food insecurity soar to 55% of the population. According to the official joint assessment by Peru’s National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) and the United Nations (U.N.) Food and Agriculture Organization, the rate of moderate or severe food insecurity dropped to 30.5% in 2025. Action Against Hunger has helped address food insecurity to prevent anemia and malnutrition in Peru. The Arequipa Nexus Institute has focused on market-driven farming, food and nutrition research and the sustainability challenges farmers face. The Owen Hart Foundation has emphasized community-level, hands-on work and programs, including housing, scholarships and partnerships, that have helped people across Peru.

– Debra Pierre

Debra is based in Miami, FL, USA and focuses on Good News and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Currency Crisis Deepens Food Insecurity in Laos

Food Insecurity in LaosDespite a decrease in poverty, food insecurity in Laos has increased amid a currency crisis. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), the prevalence of food insecurity is significantly higher in rural (12.8%) and mountainous areas (19.3%) than in urban (5.6%) and non-mountainous (7.1%).

A Currency Crisis Affects Household Budgets

The Lao kip has fallen by 60% against the U.S. dollar since 2022, driving up prices for food and fuel and straining households already dealing with malnutrition. Inflation climbed above 40% in 2023 before easing to just under 20% by late 2024, following tightened monetary policy and new exchange rate controls.

High food inflation has increased food insecurity in Laos, particularly among urban households that do not grow their own food. The World Bank conducted a survey between May and June 2024, finding that average wages grew 8% in the first half of the year, far below the 26% inflation rate at the time. The share of households reporting a significant negative impact from inflation rose to 58% by June. Many families responded by scaling up home food production and foraging, while rising numbers of workers migrated to Thailand for better pay.

Heavy flooding in 2024 further reduced agricultural output in the country’s northwest, putting pressure on a population where nearly one in three children experiences stunting. According to reports, 20% of the population also remains food-insecure. Even still, Laos is one of the fastest-growing economies in the Asia-Pacific region and is expected to graduate from least-developed country status in 2026, though persistent malnutrition and rising anemia and wasting rates continue to threaten that progress.

WFP’s Two-Decade Investment in School Meals

WFP has spent two decades partnering with the Lao government on nutrition and school feeding programs, providing nutritious food and cash assistance when needs exceed government capacity. School feeding began in Laos in 2002 as a pilot program serving 30,000 children and has since expanded to reach hundreds of thousands of students nationwide. The program has been credited with increasing school enrollment by helping 140,000 children in 1,430 schools. According to WFP’s Country Director and Representative, well-nourished, healthy schoolchildren are better equipped to learn, to “fulfill their potential as adults” and to contribute to national development.

With this assistance, there has been a growing number of children enrolled over the past two decades, including children receiving school meals. Thanks to this, they have spent six months longer at school in contrast to their peers who do not receive meals.

WFP’s current strategic plan targets improved nutrition for women, girls and children under 5, alongside a national school meals program intended to reach vulnerable districts by 2026. The plan builds on a partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. It helps smallholder farmers, especially women, to supply diversified, nutritious food directly to schools, strengthening local agricultural markets alongside child nutrition outcomes.

ADRA’s Community-Based Nutrition Programs

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) also runs programs addressing hunger and malnutrition directly, focusing on reproductive-age women and children under 5 in Lao, Khmu and Hmong villages. ADRA staff, village health volunteers and health center staff visit pregnant and lactating mothers at their homes to inform them on health messages and teach them how to take care of their own health, their families and children.

Its Positive Deviance/Hearth approach enrolls malnourished children in a 12-day community feeding and education program, teaching mothers to prepare nutritious meals while monitoring children’s growth for a full year afterward. In Xiengkhuang Province, acute malnutrition among children under 5 has reached as high as 10.43%, chronic malnutrition 33.43% and underweight 12.71%, underscoring the need for sustained intervention.

In addition, through past projects like the Mok Mai Integrated Development Initiative, which was implemented in Lao and Hmong villages in Mok Mai District, Xiengkhuang Province from 2010 to 2016, ADRA analyzed the local communities to determine what kinds of agriculture systems are suitable in the local context.

ADRA worked to provide training for the establishment of Group Enterprises to aid in the development and sustainability of local markets, which helped local value-adding processes within the target villages. By having farmers and producers collaborate, the Group Enterprises empowered local producers to not only improve their livelihoods but to improve the overall agricultural landscape within their communities.

The project’s goal was to increase resilience and decrease vulnerability to poverty in target rural communities through a comprehensive integrated approach to ground-level community development.

Building Resilience Amid Economic Uncertainty

These programs are building long-term resilience against food insecurity even as Laos navigates continued economic uncertainty. With the launch of the National Action Plan on Transition toward Sustainable Food Systems Transformation in partnership with the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Asian Development Bank, the plan focuses on specific areas to bring action and prioritize inclusive, resilient and nature-positive food systems. As it heads toward graduation from least-developed country status, this will be an opportunity for change.

– Joy Kohol

Joy is based in Muncie, IN, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Food Security After the Ukraine War

Farmer harvesting wheat in a vast field under a clear sky. Food Security After the Ukraine WarMillions of households across developing countries continue to struggle with rising food costs despite improvements in global commodity markets. Food security after the Ukraine war will remain a major concern for governments, humanitarian organizations and vulnerable communities as food inflation limits access to basic necessities. Although international grain prices have fallen from their 2022 peak, many countries still experience elevated food prices that contribute to hunger, malnutrition and poverty.

Russia and Ukraine play a crucial role in global food production. Before the war, the two countries accounted for nearly 30% of global wheat exports, around 20% of maize exports and more than 50% of sunflower oil exports. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, disruptions to Black Sea shipping routes immediately affected global food supplies and international markets. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that its Food Price Index reached an all-time high of 159.7 points in March 2022, largely driven by soaring cereal and vegetable oil prices.

Why Food Prices Have Not Fully Stabilized

Although commodity markets have become less volatile since 2022, food security continues to face several challenges. Transportation and shipping costs remain higher than before the conflict in many regions, while global supply chains are still recovering from initial wartime disruptions. Several countries also introduced export restrictions to protect domestic food supplies. For example, India restricted wheat exports in 2022, while countries including Kazakhstan and Serbia implemented temporary controls on grain exports. Although intended to stabilize domestic markets, these measures reduced food available on international markets and increased prices for import-dependent countries. According to the World Bank, food price inflation remains above 5% in many low- and middle-income economies, while several countries continue to experience food inflation exceeding 20%.

Changing Climate and Food Prices

Climate-related disasters have added another layer of pressure to global food systems. Droughts, floods and extreme heat have reduced agricultural production across several regions, making food markets more difficult to stabilize. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), conflict, the changing climate and economic instability now intersect to create one of the world’s largest food security crises. In countries already dependent on imported food, failed harvests and extreme weather events often lead to even higher prices and reduced food availability. As a result, global food security today is shaped not only by geopolitical conflict but also by climate-related disruptions affecting agricultural production worldwide.

The impact of high food prices extends far beyond grocery bills. According to the World Bank, food inflation continues to place enormous pressure on low-income households that already spend a significant portion of their income on food. The World Bank estimates that around 700 million people worldwide live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $2.15 per day. Even modest increases in food prices can force families to skip meals, reduce dietary quality or withdraw children from school to afford basic necessities. Countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, West Asia and South Asia remain especially vulnerable because many rely heavily on imported food. Rising prices have increased food insecurity, malnutrition and financial hardship for millions of households already living near or below the poverty line.

How International Organizations Are Responding

Despite ongoing challenges, international organizations continue to strengthen global food security through emergency assistance and long-term agricultural investments. Founded in 1961, WFP operates in more than 120 countries and territories, providing emergency food assistance, school meals and nutrition programs. In 2024, the organization assisted more than 150 million people, helping communities affected by conflict, climate disasters and economic crises. The FAO, established in 1945, supports more than 130 countries by strengthening agricultural production, improving farming techniques and helping governments build resilient food systems that can better withstand future shocks. Meanwhile, the World Bank has committed more than $45 billion toward food and nutrition security initiatives since 2022. These investments support farmers, improve irrigation systems, strengthen agricultural supply chains and increase access to affordable food in vulnerable countries. Together, these organizations are helping countries move beyond emergency relief by investing in long-term food resilience, agricultural productivity and sustainable development.

Food Security After the Ukraine War

Although international commodity markets have improved since the height of the crisis, food affordability remains a significant global challenge. Ongoing geopolitical tensions, climate-related disasters and fragile supply chains continue to affect food access for millions of people. However, there are encouraging signs of progress. Investments in climate-resilient agriculture, stronger food systems and expanded humanitarian assistance are helping vulnerable communities recover. Programs led by the WFP, FAO and World Bank continue to improve agricultural resilience, support farmers and expand access to nutritious food. Continued international cooperation, targeted investments and sustainable agricultural development will be essential to reducing poverty and ensuring that future global shocks do not leave millions of people vulnerable to hunger. By strengthening food systems today, governments and humanitarian organizations can build a more secure and resilient future for communities around the world.

– Srinidhi Madhavan

Srinidhi is based in Leeds, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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How Biofortified Beans in Rwanda Are Fighting Hidden Hunger

Biofortified beans in RwandaWhile many people in Rwanda consume enough food each day, millions still suffer from “hidden hunger,” a lack of essential vitamins and minerals despite getting enough calories. Although Rwanda has made significant progress in reducing poverty over the past two decades, about 30% of the population still lives below the national poverty line, and chronic malnutrition remains a major challenge, specifically in rural communities. Limited access to diverse, nutrient-rich foods means many low-income families rely on staple crops that provide calories but lack essential micronutrients.

One of the most common nutrient deficiencies is iron deficiency, which can lead to anemia, fatigue, impaired cognitive development and reduced productivity. To address this issue, researchers, government agencies and international organizations have introduced biofortified beans in Rwanda, a nutrition-focused agricultural innovation that is helping improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations.

What Are Biofortified Beans?

Biofortification is the practice of boosting crops’ nutritional content through traditional plant breeding. Biofortified crops are created by choosing and developing plants that naturally contain increased quantities of nutrients, in contrast to genetically engineered crops. Scientists developed iron-rich bean varieties that contain approximately 40% to 60% more iron than conventional beans while maintaining the taste and cooking qualities consumers prefer.

As beans are already one of Rwanda’s most widely consumed staple foods, they are a good candidate for biofortification. Improving the nutritional value of a food that people already eat regularly allows families to increase their iron intake without changing their diets. When consumed consistently, iron-biofortified beans can provide up to 80% of the daily iron requirements for women and children, making them one of the most effective food-based approaches to reducing iron deficiency, according to HarvestPlus. Biofortification provides a workable solution to lower iron deficiency without necessitating significant dietary adjustments by increasing the nutritional content of a frequently consumed item.

Why Iron Deficiency Matters in Rwanda

One of the main causes of anemia in the world is iron deficiency, which has serious health impacts. In Rwanda, anemia remains a widespread public health concern, affecting about 37% of children under 5 and 20% of women of reproductive age, according to the Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey. In addition to promoting healthy pregnancies and child development, these advancements can help people perform better at work and in school.

Regular consumption of iron-rich beans has been shown to improve iron status, memory and attention among women of reproductive age. Studies supported by HarvestPlus also found that women who regularly consumed iron beans experienced significant improvements in iron status and cognitive performance, demonstrating measurable health benefits beyond improved nutrition.

Increasing the iron content of beans, which are already widely consumed across Rwanda, offers an affordable approach that benefits both rural and urban populations. Families can obtain additional nutrients from crops they already grow and eat instead of relying solely on supplements or commercially fortified foods.

Expanding Access Through Partnerships

The Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB), HarvestPlus and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) collaborated to develop and distribute iron-rich bean varieties across Rwanda.

According to HarvestPlus, partners have concentrated on bolstering seed systems, educating farmers and establishing dependable markets for iron beans. By 2018, more than 420,000 smallholder farming households were growing iron beans, while approximately 1.8 million people consumed them regularly. The partnership also trained more than 1,000 agricultural extension workers and 5,000 lead farmers to support cultivation and community awareness.

These collaborations have made it possible for farmers to not only obtain better seeds but also understand the financial and nutritional value of cultivating the crop. Although expanding access to improved seeds and educating farmers requires continued investment, Rwanda’s success demonstrates that biofortification can be effectively scaled through strong partnerships and government support.

Benefits for Farmers and Families

The benefits of biofortified beans in Rwanda go beyond their nutritional value. In addition to improving nutrition, farmers have widely adopted iron-rich bean varieties because they often produce higher yields than conventional beans. According to HarvestPlus, some iron bean varieties increase yields by 17% to 22%, giving agricultural households more chances to make money.

Additionally, the beans have qualities that farmers find appealing, such as resistance to disease, drought tolerance and difficult growing circumstances. Families may increase food security and make extra money from surplus sales when productivity is higher.

Improved nutrition can also help children do better in school and lower health-related costs. These combined advantages show how agricultural innovation may enhance public health and reduce poverty.

A Solution for the Future

The ongoing expansion of these beans serves as an example of how straightforward agricultural fixes may assist in resolving difficult development issues. Iron-rich beans are now a viable tool for battling hidden hunger due to strong government funding, continuous research and collaborations with organizations like HarvestPlus and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

As more countries search for affordable and sustainable ways to combat malnutrition, Rwanda’s success demonstrates that improving the nutritional qualities of staple crops can have lasting impacts on both public health and economic development. By combining scientific innovation with strong partnerships and farmer participation, biofortified beans in Rwanda are helping thousands of Rwandan families build healthier and more secure futures.

– Avery Hoadley

Avery is based in Toronto, Canada and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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How Local NGOs Are Fighting Food Insecurity in Venezuela

Food Insecurity in VenezuelaDespite some signs of economic stabilization in recent years, food insecurity in Venezuela continues to affect many families across the country. Rising living costs and limited household incomes make it difficult for many people to consistently access nutritious food, particularly in vulnerable communities. According to the European Commission, approximately 40% of the population experiences moderate or severe food insecurity, and millions continue to require humanitarian assistance. In response, local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have become an important source of support through community kitchens, nutrition programs and other community-based initiatives.

Community Organizations

Community organizations play an important role in addressing this challenge through a combination of emergency assistance and long-term support. These initiatives combine immediate relief with strategies that help communities become more resilient over time. Community kitchens provide children with regular nutritious meals, while nutrition monitoring programs help identify cases of malnutrition before they become more severe. Many organizations also work closely with parents, volunteers and local leaders, strengthening networks that can respond quickly to families in need. Because these organizations are deeply rooted in the areas they serve, they often identify vulnerable households and tailor assistance to local needs.

Alimenta La Solidaridad

Founded in 2016, Alimenta La Solidaridad partners with local communities to operate community kitchens in neighborhoods facing high levels of food insecurity. Rather than operating as a traditional food distribution program, the organization relies on parents and other volunteers, who open their homes for community kitchens, prepare meals, organize daily activities and help manage each location. Volunteers also help create safe and welcoming spaces where children can receive nutritious meals on a regular basis. This locally led model allows the organization to respond to changing community needs while strengthening participation and shared responsibility.

In addition to providing nutritious meals, Alimenta La Solidaridad offers nutrition education and training for parents and caregivers, helping families build healthy eating habits despite limited resources. According to the organization, it has served more than 22 million meals and reached more than 43,000 beneficiaries through its community kitchens and community-based programs.

While Alimenta La Solidaridad focuses primarily on expanding access to nutritious meals, Caritas Venezuela addresses the issue from another angle by monitoring child nutrition and identifying families requiring immediate intervention. Together, these complementary approaches help address both the immediate and long-term effects of hunger and malnutrition.

Caritas Venezuela

Caritas Venezuela operates the SAMAN nutrition monitoring program, which regularly assesses the nutritional status of children under 5 and pregnant or breastfeeding women across the country. The program identifies cases of acute malnutrition, provides nutritional treatment and generates data that help humanitarian organizations understand where needs are greatest. Children identified with acute malnutrition receive nutritional follow-up and referrals to appropriate health and nutrition services, while the data collected helps humanitarian organizations identify communities where support is most urgently needed.

According to Caritas’ March 2026 SAMAN bulletin, the program assessed 2,486 children and found that 11.1% were experiencing acute malnutrition, while nearly 30% were either acutely malnourished or at risk of becoming so. The report also found that moderate and severe food insecurity had increased substantially among vulnerable households, underscoring the continuing need for targeted nutritional support.

Partnerships Reducing Food Insecurity in Venezuela

While local NGOs lead many community-based initiatives, partnerships with international organizations help expand their reach. The World Food Programme (WFP), for example, works with national and community partners to support school feeding, nutrition and food assistance programs while strengthening local capacities. By combining international resources and technical expertise with the community knowledge of Venezuelan organizations, these partnerships help extend assistance to vulnerable children and families who might otherwise be difficult to reach. According to WFP, its school meals program currently reaches more than 330,000 people across more than 1,100 schools, helping improve children’s nutrition while encouraging school attendance and supporting families in vulnerable communities.

Since resuming operations in Venezuela in 2021, WFP has expanded school feeding programs, supported the rehabilitation of school kitchens and worked with national and local partners to improve access to nutritious food. These partnerships demonstrate how international organizations and locally led initiatives can complement one another.

These locally led initiatives have become even more important as humanitarian funding remains constrained. According to the European Commission, Venezuela’s 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan received only 17% of the funding requested, reducing the resources available for humanitarian assistance across the country. Despite these constraints, organizations such as Alimenta La Solidaridad and Caritas Venezuela continue providing essential services by relying on volunteers, community partnerships and locally based networks. As international resources become more limited, community organizations have become an increasingly important bridge between humanitarian assistance and the families who depend on it.

Looking Ahead

Beyond providing food, these organizations help children remain healthy enough to attend school, reduce the long-term effects of malnutrition and strengthen communities’ ability to respond to future crises. Their work illustrates how locally driven solutions can complement national and international humanitarian efforts. Although these organizations cannot solve food insecurity in Venezuela on their own, they demonstrate the value of locally led solutions during prolonged economic hardship. As Venezuela continues to face economic and humanitarian challenges, sustained support from donors, humanitarian organizations and international partners can strengthen these efforts, helping more children and families gain access to nutritious food, health services and opportunities for a healthier future.

– Natalia Fleith Gelasko

Natalia is based in Berlin, Germany and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Food Waste in Uruguay Turn Into Meals

Food Waste in UruguayFood waste in Uruguay involves more than just discarded food. It also concerns food that could reach families, children and community kitchens before losing its value. Uruguay has made progress in food security, but some households still struggle to obtain enough food. The Ministry of Social Development reported that in 2025, 13.2% of households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity. The same report found that 18.9% of households with children younger than six faced moderate or severe food insecurity. This makes addressing food waste in Uruguay crucial, as food access remains challenging for the most vulnerable families.

Food Waste in Uruguay and Redalco

Uruguay’s Ministry of Environment reported that more than 1 million tons of food are lost or wasted in the country each year. The government states that food donation can help prevent edible food from becoming waste and support food security. Red de Alimentos Compartidos, known as Redalco, addresses this issue by focusing on fruits and vegetables still fit for consumption but not selected for the market.

Redalco’s mission is simple: deliver fruits and vegetables to those who need them most while reducing food waste. The organization reports that 125 million kilograms of fruits and vegetables are wasted each year in Uruguay due to factors like shape, size, color or excess production. Some food is not sold because it does not meet buyers’ typical expectations. Redalco sees this as an opportunity to connect nutritious food with those in need.

How Redalco Works

Redalco collects food from companies within the Unidad Agroalimentaria Metropolitana (UAM), Uruguay’s wholesale food market, and from farms. The team and volunteers then sort the recovered fruits and vegetables, pack them into boxes and organize daily orders for beneficiaries. Redalco delivers the food to organizations that assist vulnerable communities, including CAIF centers, children’s clubs, schools, high schools, youth centers, snack centers, community kitchens, shelters and soup kitchens.

This process is important because it organizes food rescue rather than relying on random collection. Redalco has established a system where food moves from producers and markets to social organizations familiar with community needs. While it does not solve all food insecurity issues, its model demonstrates how a local and straightforward idea can provide real support for families.

Growth and Impact

Redalco began in 2016, delivering 22,000 kilograms of food to 12 organizations. Since then, its efforts have expanded significantly. In 2024, Redalco delivered more than 1,550,225 kilograms of food and collaborated with over 400 organizations. Redalco reports that it supplies fruits and vegetables weekly to more than 400 organizations, aiding over 50,000 people. These figures illustrate how food rescue can become a substantial support system when volunteers, markets, farms and organizations collaborate.

Redalco’s impact aligns with national efforts. Uruguay enacted Law No. 20.177 to promote donations of food safe for human consumption. The law aims to support food security and reduce food waste. The country later regulated the law through Decree No. 179/025. According to Uruguay’s tax agency, the regime allows food companies, including producers, distributors, industries and stores, to donate food to approved nonprofits serving vulnerable populations. This provides structure to food donation and encourages more companies to participate.

A Simple Solution With a Bigger Meaning

Food waste in Uruguay connects poverty, food access and market preferences regarding what food appears “good” enough to sell. Redalco’s work shows that solutions do not always need to be complex. Many fruits and vegetables may look different, but they can still nourish children, families or individuals in vulnerable situations.

Instead of becoming waste, Redalco repurposes it. With over 400 organizations reached in 2024 and more than 50,000 people supported weekly, Redalco is transforming food waste into a source of nutrition and dignity in Uruguay.

– Mateo Alcocer

Mateo is based in West Hills, CA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Food Systems in Guyana: The World’s Most Self-Sufficient Country

Food Systems in GuyanaIn 2025, a country roughly the size of Great Britain became the only nation that solely produces all the food it requires. Located on the northern coast of South America, Guyana is the first of 186 other countries to be able to “self-sufficiently feed” its people. Improvements in food systems in Guyana have resulted in less than 2.5% of the nation being undernourished.

Food systems encompass the whole process of producing, processing, transporting and consuming food. Successful and sustainable food systems can alleviate poverty through job creation and make communities more resilient in managing challenges such as disease outbreaks. Through the development of successful food systems, Guyana has no need for imports, producing all its needs in all seven necessary food groups.

However, Guyana, formerly a British colony, has not always been this self-sufficient. In the early 2000s, the nation was considered “one of the poorest” within the Western Hemisphere. It was the global pandemic in 2019 that finally served as a wake-up call for the Guyanese state. This medical emergency exposed the country’s overreliance on imports and lack of resilience to such shocks.

Regional Oil

A major factor that enabled food systems in Guyana to improve was an oil surge into the country. This influx began in 2019, after American corporation ExxonMobil discovered vast amounts of oil in the region in 2015. Currently, Guyana produces around 650,000 barrels of oil per day, with the country projected to pump the highest amount of oil per inhabitant.

The economic effects of this oil bonanza are evident in Guyana’s GDP growth, which has increased fivefold in the past five years. By 2030, government income from oil is expected to reach around $10 billion.

However, with over half of the approximately 840,000 population still living in poverty, the profits have not yet reached enough of the Guyanese people. Georgetown, Guyana’s capital, still lacks the infrastructure to reflect the country’s financial rise. Wooden houses, poor irrigation channels and regular power cuts are symptomatic of a system that has not yet invested enough in its people.

Guyana’s Food Systems Transformation

Present-day food security stems from the country’s long-term commitment to improving its agricultural sector. This commitment began in 2009, when exports of “other crops,” such as wheat, increased by 32.4% after the government launched a “grow more food” campaign. In 2011, the creation of the Food and Nutrition Security Strategy placed a focus on the nation’s people, particularly vulnerable groups facing food insecurity.

The Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), a further program introduced in 2009, aimed to ensure global climate action and biodiversity were balanced with the nation’s development. By 2030, the LCDS aims to build “climate resilience” in the agricultural sector through systems such as “climate-proof” sustainable farms.

However, 2021 was a major year in the journey to improving food systems in Guyana. A National High-Level Dialogue was held prior to the country’s appearance at the United Nations Food Systems Summit. There, obstacles to agricultural progress were identified, as well as the need to create a “food systems approach.” From the discussions, a clear objective was cited: “deliver healthy and nutritious diets to all Guyanese.”

United Nations Assistance

Since the 2021 United Nations (U.N.) Food Systems Summit, the U.N. has been essential in assisting with the strategic investment of food systems in Guyana. Today, examples of this investment can be found in the country’s remote regions, where innovations in farming techniques, such as greenhouse systems, have led to increased harvests and climate shock protection.

The benefits of these initiatives have also been reaped in an area outside of the agricultural sector. The collaborative Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) program, championed by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), uses ingredients sourced from local farms. This global framework feeds around 2,500 Guyanese schoolchildren across 14 to 16 primary schools. The impact of this improved nutrition is noticeable, with children more consistently attending school.

Through investment in “dedicated training and reliable buyers,” 75 smallholder farmers, including 28 women, are being enabled to create a consistent business income. The U.N., through both food and opportunity, is helping to facilitate the revival of some of Guyana’s most forgotten communities and promote a more inclusive future.

Framework for the Future

A mission that began in 2009 has today resulted in achieving full food self-sufficiency across all essential food groups. Through novel legislation such as crop production insurance and a clear goal of reducing the region’s food import bill by 25%, Guyana aspires to become the food-producing capital of the Caribbean.

An ongoing large share of internal poverty, combined with external tension with the neighboring Venezuelan government, means Guyana will still face obstacles. However, by following Guyana’s framework of farmer-focused policies and global organization assistance, many other forgotten nations could join Guyana in the global spotlight.

– William Snow

William is based in Chepstow, Wales and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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What to Know About Food Systems in Fiji

Food Systems in FijiThe food systems in Fiji influence everything from public health to economic opportunity. The Pacific island nation relies on domestic agriculture, fisheries and imported goods to feed its population. While Fiji has made progress in expanding access to food, rising import costs, climate-related disasters and nutrition challenges continue to affect communities across the country. In response, government agencies, farmers and development organizations are working to strengthen food security and build a more resilient food system.

According to the Food Systems Dashboard, Fiji is experiencing an increase in diet-related health issues, including obesity and diabetes, resulting from increased consumption of imported and processed foods. While traditional diets still feature local root crops, fruits, vegetables and seafood, imported food also plays a significant role in meeting consumer demand.

Challenges in Fiji’s Food Systems 

The University of Southern Pacific reports that climate challenges, extreme weather events, natural disasters and shifting dietary habits are the leading challenges to domestic food production and nutrition. In 2023, Fiji imported $1.106 billion in crops and livestock from more than 70 countries, primarily Australia, New Zealand, China, Malaysia and Singapore. 

This reliance on imported foods can leave Fiji vulnerable to supply chain disruptions and rising global food prices. According to the Food Systems Dashboard, the country also faces a dual burden of malnutrition, with 7% of the population experiencing undernourishment, while obesity and diet-related diseases continue to rise. These challenges place additional pressure on low-income families that already struggle to afford nutritious food, as 57% of the population cannot afford a healthy diet.  

Poverty in Fiji

Agriculture remains an important part of Fiji’s economy and a major source of employment in rural communities. According to the World Bank, poverty affects more than 45,700 households in Fiji. Approximately 24.1% of the population lives below the national poverty line, while rates rise to 36.2% among households living in rural and maritime communities, which also experience higher transportation costs and greater exposure to climate-related disasters. When floods, cyclones and other extreme weather events damage crops and infrastructure, families often experience reduced incomes and limited access to affordable food.

Strengthening local food production can help communities increase household incomes while reducing dependence on costly imported goods. Investments in agriculture, fisheries and rural infrastructure also create opportunities for economic growth in areas where poverty rates remain highest.

Government Efforts to Strengthen Food Security

In October 2025, Fiji’s government launched its Food and Nutrition Security Policy, a consolidation of food, nutrition and climate initiatives to address the challenges of food insecurity and poverty.

Government leaders developed the framework through consultations with stakeholders to create a more coordinated approach to food production, distribution and consumption while helping communities adapt to climate-related risks. 

According to the United Nations Food Systems Coordination Hub, the policy supports collaboration among government agencies, researchers, farmers and development partners to improve access to nutritious food, strengthen local food production and build resilience against climate-related disruptions. By connecting agricultural development with public health objectives, policymakers expect to improve long-term food access and nutrition outcomes throughout the country.

Additionally, the International Trade Administration found Fiji’s agricultural sector to be a crucial component of its economy. Providing jobs for 83% of its rural residents, 36% of the total employed population. Despite the high financial costs and deficient access to modern equipment and technology, the government is offering tax incentives to private investors for non-sugar agriculture with a desire to provide sustainable practices, improve infrastructure and foster resident communities.

A More Resilient Food System 

Food systems in Fiji play a critical role in supporting public health, economic development and food security. While the country continues to face challenges from changing weather patterns, rising food imports and nutrition-related health concerns, government agencies and local stakeholders are taking steps to strengthen domestic food production and improve access to nutritious foods. Through initiatives such as the Food and Nutrition Security Policy and continued investment in agriculture, Fiji is progressing toward a more resilient food system that can support communities and reduce vulnerability to poverty in the years ahead.

– Ashley Belling

Ashley is based in Chicago, IL, USA and focuses on Celebs and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Food Systems in Costa Rica: Advancing Nutrition Accessibility

Food Systems in Costa RicaCosta Rica is a hotspot of global biodiversity, containing 5% to 6% of all estimated species life on Earth despite being only 51,100 sq km (19,730 sq mi), or 0.03% of the world’s landmass. Bordered by Nicaragua and Panama, it in fact ranks third among the smallest countries in Central America, leaving the country little to work with.

Costa Rica was traditionally an agrarian export-based economy, supplying coffee, bananas and cocoa to countries around the world. However, from private-public industry diversification and policy adaptation leveraging Free Trade Zones, it is now has become one of Latin America’s largest high-value services and high-tech manufacturing providers. In short, Costa Rica is very different from the narrative one might expect. It is a modernized powerhouse, featuring growing population density, declining birth rates, steady immigration inflow and a population overwhelmingly concentrated in urban areas. It is a competitive high-income economy, particularly stark as the only OECD country in Central America, concentrated into a small biodiverse and climate-prone geographic area.

The same is true of food systems in Costa Rica. With all these factors at play, Costa Rica has faced a difficult task in achieving a robust and interconnected network of farm to fork food production and distribution in its food systems. However, rejecting assumptions once more, Costa Rica has continued to rise above expectations in developing globally-leading food system strategies.

Food Insecurity Solutions for Underserved Communities

Despite Costa Rica’s high-income status, many households still experience strong impacts from poverty. About 18% of households across the country lived in poverty in 2024, with an additional 4.8% living in extreme poverty conditions. Economic inequality has also increased according to measures of Costa Rica’s Gini coefficient (a figure which evaluates wealth distribution among a population), made even more starkly apparent by almost a third of all Costa Rican children experiencing poverty or extreme poverty conditions.

The country has worked heavily to expand food accessibility to more rural communities through the national initiative “Empowering Communities in Sustainable Agri-food Systems,” a program that the SDG Fund and UNICEF and the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement supported. Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health found that food insecurity in 2020 impacted 11.76% and 22.65% of households in the cities of Buenos Aires and Guatuso respectively. Efforts have therefore been especially focused on working to assist these hard-hit cities and rural communities surrounding them, in addition to reducing overall food insecurity from a national average of 16.42% of Costa Ricans without clear or quality food.

Community and Government Coordination

Multisectoral partnerships among government and community bodies are have also been a key focus of the SUN Movement, with agencies responsible for agriculture and health working alongside local governments and community organizations to create more realistic and community-centered approaches to nutrition awareness.

The SUN Movement’s efforts have trained more than 180 Costa Ricans in nutrition-awareness activities through the SUN Movement’s efforts. SUN has additionally been effective in helping to integrate integrating community-led food strategies into formal national policy, revitalizing the national food and nutrition body Secretaria de la Politica Nacional de Alimentacion y Nutricion (SEPAN) and aiding EU4SUN and Universidad EARTH to expand early childhood nutritional access and integrate Mesoamerican farming traditions into the National Plan for Sustainable and Healthy Gastronomy. Ultimately, the initiative hopes to improve agri-food system governance, sustainable production practices and Costa Rican eating habits with strategies encompassing the often-overlooked role of women, children and indigenous peoples in creating change.

Affordability and Accessibility Policy Problems

Some have still raised concerns regarding the affordability of nutrition, however, even as the Costa Rican government works to meet the United Nation (UN)’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A 2024 UN report on the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World found that an average healthy diet in Costa Rica costs $4.56 per day, 60 cents higher than the worldwide average. Costa Rica also features some of the highest rates of obesity in Central America due to cheap and accessible modern ultra-processed foods, underscoring the complex web of challenges Costa Rica faces in ensuring not just food access but complete quality nutrition in its food systems.

To address these issues, Costa Rica has tried innovative new approaches. In 2023, the Costa Rican government implemented a value-added tax (VAT) on food with explicitly defined positive nutritional content, becoming the first country in the world to attempt basic tax basket reform meant to encourage more balanced dietary improvements. While not entirely successful, the 2023 VAT and its subsequent 2024 amendments represent a conscious and continuous effort to address longstanding nutritional issues in the country, especially for lower-income populations more highly affected by incomplete food systems.

Costa Rica’s Robust Environmental Sustainability Efforts

Even while addressing affordability, nutritional program implementation and economic shifts away from agriculture in its food systems, Costa Rica is notably still conscious of environmental sustainability. Given the country’s diverse topography and biological life and its high concentration of volcanic sites, Costa Rica has historically been a global leader in leading environmentally sustainable climate action, despite even with agriculture accounting for more than a third of the country’s land use and a seventh of its overall employment.

Several plans, namely Costa Rica’s National Climate Change Adaptation Policy (2018-2030), National Development Plan (2019-2022) and National Decarbonization Plan (2018-2050), present the country’s ecological and environmental adaptation and carbon neutrality ambitions. Costa Rica has also developed national low-emission livestock, coffee and banana production strategies, export industries which the country still relies on heavily. It has involved significant partnerships, most notably SCALA, or Scaling up Climate Ambition on Land Use and Agriculture, a 2020-2028 joint initiative by the UNDP Climate Change Adaptation and the Food and Agriculture Organization to develop low-carbon farming systems for the country’s beef and coffee sectors.

In addition, Costa Rica has innovated sustainable direct interventions to great success. The Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) program of 1997, which provided financial incentives to landowners to protect forested area, has resulted in a net negative to deforestation countrywide. Digital traceability has been improved by a $120 million initiative to modernize 10,500 small and medium agricultural producers, allowing for digital registration systems and food-tracking networks. Methods like crop rotation, companion planting and natural repellents, polyculture planting and indigenous natural nutrient cycling have all been practical strategies advocated for long-term sustainable farming.

An Optimistic Food System Future

Costa Rica’s food system combines an urbanized population and a strong agricultural export economy with ambitious sustainability goals. Despite challenges in rural food insecurity, nutritional accessibility and climate and environmental concerns, the country has managed to develop strategies focused on creating a more sustainable, healthy and resilient food system that supports both people and ecosystems. With a clear commitment to using community, policy and environmental solutions to drive change, Costa Rica appears well-suited to solving its food system shortfalls with a variety of effective and concrete means.

– Matthew Hecomovich

Matthew is based in Santa Clara, CA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons