What is food security?

Food security is a critical aspect in the fight against chronic malnutrition. Chronic malnutrition, that is, the lack of adequate intake of essential nutrients over a prolonged period of time, is a global problem that affects people all over the world.

Lack of access to nutritious and affordable food is one of the main causes of chronic malnutrition. Therefore, guaranteeing food security through sustainable and equitable practices is critical to reduce its prevalence and improve the health and well-being of affected communities.

Since 2014, the Board of Directors of the  Juan Bautista Gutiérrez Foundation (FJBG), whose members include its Vice President, Felipe Antonio Bosch Gutiérrez, has sought to address the problem of chronic malnutrition through the Nutrition Program, whose focus of action is in San Cristóbal Totonicapán, a municipality in the department of Totonicapán in Guatemala.

By 2023, 4,100 women and 2,400 children will have benefited from the program. These data reflect the significant progress of the Nutrition Program, which indicates that the strategies and measures adopted by FJBG and its directors are proving effectiveness in reaching more people and ensuring that they have access to adequate and healthy nutrition. 

But what is food security?

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), food security is the availability, accessibility and use of nutritious and affordable food that meets dietary and nutrition needs of a population. 

The foundation knows that we live in a time when it is possible to make a big difference to ensure that all people have access to healthy food. This can lead to working towards a more sustainable and fair future for all.

And it is with this mission in mind that FJBG seeks to ensure that people have access to nutritious and balanced food to improve their health and prevent disease. For this reason, the Nutrition Program has focused on the distribution of food and the promotion of healthy eating habits. 

Thanks to collaboration efforts with local organizations and communities, the program has  identified food needs to provide long-term solutions. In addition, nutrition education activities are carried out under the program to improve awareness of the importance of healthy eating and how to achieve it.