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Have you ever wondered how the most vulnerable people in the city ensure their access to nutritious and sufficient food when it is challenging to ensure its availability? In cities like those in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), where social inequalities persist, food security becomes a pressing challenge for the most vulnerable groups in urban areas.
In this article, which is part of a series on food security in LAC, we will address strategies designed to meet these needs, revealing innovative solutions to ensure access to quality food in urban areas. In particular, we will explain how in Manta and Quito in Ecuador, Benjamin Constant in Brazil, and Mexico City, various organizations are providing local food and leveraging products to assist vulnerable populations in urban environments. Keep reading to learn more details.
Challenges and Urban Food Security Strategies in the Region
The number of people experiencing hunger in LAC reached 43.2 million in 2022, according to the latest report from the FAO. This data highlights the urgent importance of addressing food security in our region. The challenge significantly affects vulnerable households in both urban and rural areas. It is therefore necessary for cities to take a proactive role in formulating effective policies, projects, programs, and strategies to increase the food security of their residents.
In this context, social and institutional innovations play a crucial role in bridging the gap between producers and consumers, boosting local markets, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Different mechanisms, such as food banks and urban agriculture as an integral part of agri-food systems, offer a range of notable advantages:
- Increased food security by reducing dependence on food imports from other regions.
- Greater availability of fresh and quality food.
- Significant reduction in the ecological footprint of agri-food systems, lowering transportation costs and associated pollution.
- Stimulus to the creation of local jobs, strengthening the community economy.
These strategies not only contribute to addressing food security but also have a positive impact on environmental sustainability and the economic well-being of urban communities.
In these initiatives, it is essential to consider key aspects such as:
- Sustainability, establishing strong links with the market and providing ongoing training to ensure the quality and continuity of products.
- Inclusion, ensuring that these initiatives actively work to provide income alternatives and access to essential services, especially for vulnerable groups, promoting equity.
- Innovation, generating comparative advantages and adding value to urban agriculture, fostering entrepreneurship, collaboration, and effective connection with demand, driving the development of creative solutions in this field.
Community and Family Gardens in Manta, Ecuador:
The community and family gardens of Manta, which started in 2019, have benefited 3,200 people in the city. This program is characterized by fostering collaboration among neighbors, generating income, and having favorable legislation that allows regulating and facilitating its expansion. The gardens not only ensure the availability of low-cost food but also promote community collaboration and environmental care.
The program’s methodology includes training, supply of seeds and inputs for garden construction, with strong follow-up by the local government. This has allowed its expansion to community and school gardens, with product marketing at biofairs. The benefits include access to healthy and affordable food, the opportunity to sell surpluses to generate income, and contribute to environmental conservation.
Continue reading about this initiative here.
Urban Gardens in Mexico City:
In the first semester of 2022, the pilot project “Urban Gardens in Low-Income Communities in Mexico City” was launched. This collaboration between Organi-k and the IDB made possible the creation of a community garden on land and another on the roof of a school. Participants were trained, including composting, and students were trained to maintain the school garden and promote the program.
The project benefited 164 people in the Cuauhtémoc borough and 140 in Coyoacán, fostering community integration, healthy food, self-management, agricultural employment, composting, and water collection. A hybrid urban regeneration committee supports the continuity of the program, along with efforts to establish regulations and affordable technologies. The involvement of academia, conflict resolution, community and family gardens, and the promotion of composting techniques are crucial for this project that emphasizes accessible tools and promotes urban agriculture, providing healthy food, employment, and self-management.
Food Acquisition Program in Benjamin Constant, Brazil:
In its first year of implementation, the food acquisition program in this Brazilian city distributed 10 tons of food to 2,000 vulnerable families. The active participation of the municipal social council in connecting local producers with needy families is noteworthy in this initiative, ensuring that the offered products are of quality and sustainable. In addition, this program promotes community cultivation through municipal purchases without the need for bidding, using predefined criteria to engage producers.
The service is supervised by the municipal social assistance council and supported by a nutritionist who creates menus and personalized baskets, supplying schools, hospitals, and community restaurants. Municipal technical assistance ensures quality, and a budget of 1.5 billion reais is expected next year to continue supporting these families in nutrition, training in urban gardens, and food management.
Quito Food Bank, Ecuador:
The Quito Food Bank is a pioneering initiative in Ecuador. It benefits more than 80,000 people and focuses on leveraging food that would otherwise be wasted. Its efficient process of recovery, classification, and distribution has not only reduced food waste but also generated products such as pulps and jams. This initiative stands out for its close collaboration with academia, international cooperation, and active volunteer participation.
Founded in 2003, this food bank has established strong links with academic institutions and has become a reference in the fight against food waste in Ecuador. It works in four key steps, from recovery to data generation, with a focus on producing derived foods and composting from waste, contributing to combating child malnutrition and reducing food waste in the country.
Community collaboration, urban agriculture, and food banks are key elements to address persistent inequalities in vulnerable neighborhoods in the urban environments of our region. The initiatives in Manta, Quito, Mexico City, and Benjamin Constant not only increase food security but also promote environmental sustainability and strengthen the local economy. It is therefore essential to continue advancing inclusive policies, fostering innovation, and ensuring sustainability to build more resilient and equitable urban communities.
If you couldn’t participate in the live webinar, we invite you to watch the complete recording below:
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