The FAO has published new global indicators that reveal the severity of the current nutritional crisis: billions of people cannot afford a healthy and nutritious diet, despite the fact that global caloric supply is sufficient. These data underscore that the main obstacle is not food scarcity, but rather the high cost of food, especially for nutrient-dense options, which forces people to prioritize affordability over mere caloric availability. Affordability is defined in relation to average household expenditure, highlighting that for a large portion of the world’s population, eating healthily is economically unaffordable. This analysis, conducted in collaboration with Tufts University and the World Bank, provides a detailed breakdown by region and country, showing that healthy diets are more expensive in Latin America and the Caribbean. The results demonstrate that the affordability gap has recently widened, disproportionately affecting Asia and Africa, where hundreds of millions of people have been excluded from consuming diverse and nutrient-rich foods. This perspective shifts the focus of food security from counting calories to assessing the actual economic capacity of populations to access a balanced and sustainable diet. The relevance of this article for open data lies in the institutionalization and democratization of this methodology. By publishing these indicators on FAOSTAT, an open and accessible platform, the FAO establishes a transparent and updatable global standard. This enables governments, researchers, and civil society organizations to use rigorous empirical data to design effective public policies. The availability of this structured information fosters accountability and facilitates the development of evidence-based local interventions, which are essential for combating malnutrition and ensuring the right to a healthy diet.
Source: fao.orgPublished on 2023-03-02