President Lula announces a package of measures to guarantee healthy and affordable food for all Brazilians, focusing on eradicating hunger by 2026, promoting family farming, strengthening sustainable production, and tackling food insecurity.
Fighting hunger has been a priority for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva since his first term in office in 2003. And he is fully aware of how important this is. "I know what it's like for a child to go to bed with nothing to eat. I know what it's like to spend the weekend without any beans to cook. Hunger is a crucial issue," said the president at the Presidential Palace during an event in honor of World Food Day, celebrated on October 16th.
During the ceremony, the government announced two new strategic plans, the National Food Supply Plan "Alimento no Prato" (Food on the plate - Planaab) and the National Plan for Agroecology and Organic Production (Planapo), aimed at guaranteeing healthy food for all Brazilians. The focus will be on sustainable production and valuing family farming, cooperatives, and small producers.
Lula recalled that Brasil was removed from the FAO's Hunger Map in 2014, but political setbacks in 2021 led the country to face this problem again. "Our idea is to eliminate hunger again by 2026," he promised. He also highlighted the absurd amount of food that is lost between production and consumption. "Nevertheless, every night 733 million people go to bed without eating. This is unexplainable."
Planaab will have 29 initiatives and 92 strategic actions, such as the creation of new supply centers in states such as Bahia and São Paulo, facilitating access to fresh and healthy food. Planapo will include 197 initiatives across seven axes, with a R$6 billion investment in organic and agroecological production aimed at strengthening the commercialization of these products.
According to the Minister for Agrarian Development and Family Farming, Paulo Teixeira, the plans were developed in partnership with public agencies, civil society and private initiative, and are committed to guaranteeing the country's food sovereignty. "We want to create an inclusive and structured system from production to consumption, guaranteeing the right to food," he said.
Lula recalled that Brasil was removed from the FAO's Hunger Map in 2014, but political setbacks in 2021 led the country to face this problem again. "Our idea is to eliminate hunger again by 2026," he promised. He also highlighted the absurd amount of food that is lost between production and consumption. "Nevertheless, every night 733 million people go to bed without eating. This is unexplainable."
The Minister of Social Development and Fight Against Hunger, Wellington Dias, reinforced the commitment to eradicate hunger in Brasil during this term. "Last year, we removed 24.4 million people from food insecurity. This year, we want to reduce it even further in order to remove Brasil from the Hunger Map by 2026."
