Malnutrition stemming from unhealthy diets is a major food systems challenge impacting the health and well-being of people around the world. High food prices, increasing availability of ultra-processed foods, urbanization, climate change, and other trends have contributed to the overconsumption of unhealthy foods while limiting the accessibility of healthy foods. These challenges are prevalent across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) where healthy foods are often expensive, high levels of economic and social inequality persist, and dietary changes have led to a rapid increase in overweight and obesity existing alongside other forms of malnutrition.
These issues and possible solutions were the focus of the June 27 Latin America and Caribbean launch of IFPRI’s flagship publication, the 2024 Global Food Policy Report (GFPR): Food Systems for Healthy Diets and Nutrition. The hybrid event was hosted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., and explored key implications of the report for LAC.