Federal Government continues hunger eradication efforts in Brazil with two new plans and over 220 initiatives

A well-fed Brazil has been President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's priority since his first term, in 2003. “It’s because I know what it means for a child to go to sleep without anything to eat. I know what it means for a young teenager to go to bed without having anything to eat. I know what it is like to spend the weekend without even just a handful of beans to cook. Hunger is a crucial point,” declared the president during the ceremony at the Planalto Palace, in commemoration of World Food Day, a date celebrated on October 16 in over 150 countries.

In 2014, the FAO announced that Brazil was off the hunger map. It took many years to get Brazil out of that map, but only a few months to destroy this accomplishment. Our idea is to lift everyone from hunger once again by the end of our term, in 2026” — LUIZ INÁCIO LULA DA SILVA, President of the Republic of Brazil

During the event, a series of measures were announced with the goal of eradicating hunger, promoting healthy food and reducing food and nutritional insecurity, particularly the severe kind, in the entire country. Among the key programs launched are the Food Supply National Plan “Food on the Plate” (Plano Nacional de Abastecimento Alimentar “Alimento no Prato” / PLANAAB) and the Agroecology and Organic Production National Plan (Plano Nacional de Agroecologia e Produção Orgânica / PLANAPO), to ensure food on the table for all Brazilian citizens. Additionally, the programs aim to foster a sustainable, healthy food production system that prioritizes small-scale producers, cooperatives, and associations, while also pursuing the essential goal of eradicating hunger across the entire national territory.

“In 2014, the FAO announced that Brazil was off the hunger map. It took many years to get Brazil out of that map, but only a few months to destroy this accomplishment. Our idea is to lift everyone from hunger once again by the end of our term, in 2026,” promised President Lula. “We know just how much food goes to waste between production and consumption. We know just how much food gets discarded at restaurants throughout the country, and in companies. And yet, we are in awe of the number of 733 million human beings who go to sleep every night without having anything to eat. This is inexplicable,” he regretted.

The plans result from the cooperation of public agencies, civil society, and private initiative. “PLANAPO is going to increase the production and processing of organic and agroecological-based foods and will strengthen commercialization. A total of 197 initiatives distributed along seven axes committed to earmark BRL 6 billion in PRONAF credit lines for organic and/ or agroecological production, as well as BRL 115 million in foment measures aiming productive inclusion,” explained Brazil’s Minister of Agrarian Development and Family Farming (Ministério de Desenvolvimento Agrário e Agricultura Familiar / MDA, Paulo Teixeira.

On the PLANAAB, he added that 29 initiatives and 92 strategic measures are lined up in the plan. These include increasing the number of popular produce markets and supply centers throughout the country. From the start, another six supply centers will be implanted in the states of Bahia, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Sergipe, and São Paulo (two). By facilitating access to healthy and fresh foods, Food on the Plate benefits producers and consumers.

“The goal is to create an inclusive and well-structured supply system that can ensure the right to food and food sovereignty, from production until it reaches the plate. In this sense, the initiatives also contemplate the production of healthy foods in sustainable systems. Taking into account, especially, the foods of the food hamper consumed by the Brazilian people,” said Paulo Teixeira.

HUNGER ERADICATION — In addition to ensuring fresh and good-quality food to all Brazilians, the initiatives presented on World Food Day are aimed at eradicating hunger in the country. “And, yes, we can celebrate. We found the country with 33.1 million people in food insecurity; and last year, we lifted 24.4 million people (from the hunger map). According to FAO criteria, we reduced to 2.8% (undernourishment level) in 2023 and, this year, we want to reach under 2.2%, so that we can reach the goal of lifting Brazil from hunger before the end of this mandate,” guaranteed the Minister of Social Development and Hunger Eradication (Ministério do Desenvolvimento e Assistência Social, Família e Combate à Fome / MDS), Wellington Dias.

“We can blame drought or excessive rain. We can say anything we want, but actually, the only explanation for the existence of hunger is a thing called the irresponsibility of those who run the countries, who run the states. Eradicating hunger in Brazil and eradicating hunger around the world should not be something to be proud of: it is a moral, ethical, political, and even humanist obligation. This is what we are doing,” concluded the president.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS — The Arroz da Gente (Our Rice) Program legislation allocates over BRL 998.12 million in option contracts to diversify and stimulate rice production in the country by building up stocks (acquiring) of up to 500,000 tons—an amount equivalent to the estimated losses from the 2023/24 harvest. Small and medium-sized producers interested in growing rice will be able to sign option contracts with the government, which will guarantee the purchase of their production at a pre-established price.

• Renovation and Modernization of Conab Warehouses (Itaipu), with an allocation of BRL 55 million.
• Leasing of spaces at the São Paulo General Warehouse and Wholesale Company (Companhia de Entrepostos e Armazéns Gerais de São Paulo / Ceagesp).
• Public notice for the modernization of Food Banks at wholesale markets (Ceasas).
• Strengthening territorial arrangements for the production, distribution, and consumption of healthy foods.
• Call for applications for the 1st edition of the "Urban Agriculture Award” (Prêmio Agricultura Urbana).