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Food security in Latin America
1Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición, Mexico 14,000 D.F., Mexico.
Food and Nutrition Bulletin
|April 20, 2006
Summary
Latin America
Area of Science:
- Nutrition science
- Public health
- Latin American studies
Background:
- Improving nutrition situation in Latin America.
- Emerging worrisome factors despite overall improvements.
- Rural-to-urban migration impacting nutrition.
Purpose of the Study:
- Analyze the complex nutrition situation in Latin America.
- Identify factors masked by average data.
- Assess the impact of globalization on nutrition.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of nutrition data.
- Examination of migration patterns.
- Assessment of agricultural dependency and globalization effects.
Main Results:
- Rural nutrition worsening in Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil.
- Persistent severe nutrition problems in Caribbean, Central America, Andes, and Brazil.
- Globalization creates new pressures, especially for agricultural economies.
Conclusions:
- Average nutrition data can mask critical issues.
- Migration and globalization present significant nutrition challenges.
- Targeted interventions needed for vulnerable populations.
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