Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Argentina

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Argentina

Argentina is the eighth-largest country in the world and the second-largest country in South America with a current population of almost 46 million people and the third-largest economy in Latin America. While Argentina has seen some progress in reducing its rates of hunger and malnourishment, the country still struggles with food insecurity among many children and families.

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Argentina

  1. Argentina has 334,000 farms, with 251,000, or approximately 75%, being owned by families. These family-owned farms supply roughly half of the locally consumed food and also play a significant role in the country’s exports, which totaled $10.8 billion in 2021.
  2. Argentina has significantly reduced hunger rates in recent years, achieving a Global Hunger Index score below five. However, in February 2024, 254% inflation saw thousands participating in protests demanding food aid for the poor
  3. Food insecurity in Argentina has become a reason for concern, with multiple causes, including inadequate strategic vision, unstable agricultural policies, drought and climate vulnerability, rising global prices, food production focus on exports and increasing poverty. Between 2019 and 2021, there was a 30% rise in the number of hungry people. 
  4. According to 2020 research, 16 million tons of food were lost or wasted annually in Argentina, while more than 11% of Argentinians were experiencing severe food insecurity. In 2019, the country implemented a National Food Donation Law and a National Plan for the Reduction of Food Loss and Waste. The National Plan addresses food processing technology, transportation and storage infrastructure and market mechanisms to assure timely distribution.
  5. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations reports that Argentina’s agriculture and food sectors account for 54% of its land use and 54% of employment. The FAO also reports that the country contributes to 2.1% of global emissions and as such has prioritized various approaches related to the role of agriculture in addressing climate change.   
  6. An NGO fighting hunger in Argentina is The Huerta Nino Foundation, established in 1999. A nonprofit organization located in Buenos Aires, its mission was to reduce rural child hunger by building organic gardens in rural schools. The foundation, now working in both rural and urban areas, has reported 600 projects over 23 provinces, involving 50,000 children. Besides providing diversified foods, the gardens serve as a setting for discussing family eating habits with the community. 
  7. Yet another organization that contributes to child nutrition in Argentina is Love Volunteers. It is a volunteer organization that has benefitted almost 3,500 unprivileged children. Love Volunteers’ Nutrition Volunteering Program provides nutritious food products to underprivileged children and their families, educates families—especially single mothers and children under 13—on the importance of good nutrition, teaches children healthy habits and overall facilitates the development of underprivileged children. 
  8. The White Helmets Commission is funded in Argentina by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is part of a regional initiative to replace the welfare model with a partnership and capacity-building model. The local volunteer corps in Argentina is one of 16 participating countries. One of the initiative’s several aims is to strengthen the local volunteer agencies fighting to reduce hunger and poverty. The network has agreements with regional and international organizations including FAO, the World Food Program and PAHO. In 2004, among several other resolutions, the Organization of American States resolved to continue to support the program fund and also requested the Argentine White Helmets Committee to provide technical assistance to other member countries.
  9. Barrios de Pie is a social organization and movement established in 2002 that aims to decrease hunger in Argentina. Between 2020 and 2022, its promotion of community vegetable gardens resulted in 90 gardens outside Buenos Aires and more than an additional 900 across the rest of Argentina.  
  10. In May of 2024, a federal court ordered Argentina’s Human Capital Ministry to immediately release five tons of food designated for the poor that had been held up, awaiting an audit, citing “the vast number of Argentines ‘acutely suffering from food insecurity.’” 

These top 10 facts about hunger in Argentina represent the country’s consistent efforts in fighting and eliminating hunger. The many organizations operating in the country provide hope to find solutions and strategies to end the hunger epidemic in Argentina.

– Staff Reports
Photo: Flickr
Updated: June 29, 2024