Why does Latin America and the Caribbean have the highest cost of a healthy diet globally? What is the link between the cost of a healthy diet and its consumption? Is there an association between the high cost of the diet and the high levels of overweight and obesity in the region? What are the policies and actions that contribute to increasing their consumption?
These are some of the unanswered questions that will bring together experts and specialists from FAO, UNICEF, PAHO, IFAD, WFP and academia to discuss the main theme of the 2026 Regional Overview: the consumption of healthy diets for food security and nutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The latest FAO estimates show that in Latin America and the Caribbean, the prevalence of undernourishment and food insecurity has declined for four consecutive years. However little progress has been made in halting the rise of adult obesity: between 2000 and 2022, the prevalence almost doubled, affecting 29.9 percent of the adult population in 2022. In the region, 181.9 million people cannot afford a healthy diet, in a region where the cost is the highest in the world.
To further continue reducing hunger and food insecurity and tackling all forms of malnutrition, Latin America and the Caribbean must understand the status of food consumption in the region and ensure access to healthy diets for all.
The session will be dedicated to identifying methodologies, evidence, and existing experiences to address the research questions proposed for the 2026 Regional Overview, as well as promoting dialogue and collaboration among experts in food security, nutrition indicators and healthy diets’ cost, consumption patterns and policies.
Join us online to follow this discussion!
WHEN: November 11, 2025. 10:30 to 12:00 hours (UTC-3) and November 12, 2025. 9.30 to 11:30 hours (UTC-3)
WHERE: Join online on this link
BOOK IT: Click here
See the agenda
| Day 1: Tuesday 11 of November 2025 | |
| 10:30-10:40 | Welcome remarksMaya Takagi, Leader of the Regional Program, FAO Regional OfficeBenjamin Davis, Director of Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division, FAO (TBC) |
| 10:40-10:50 | Regional Overview 2026: topic presentation |
| 10:50-11:45 | Panel: High cost of healthy diets in LAC· The Cost of a Healthy Diet Worldwide – A Closer Look at Latin America and the Caribbean· The cost of healthy diets in the Caribbean· Why does LAC have the highest cost of a healthy diet globally? What data, evidence, and methodologies could be explored to help us better answer this question? |
| Day 2: Wednesday 12 of November 2025 | |
| 9:30-9:35 | Welcome remarks and recap |
| 9:35-10:15 | Panel: Consumption of the healthy diet in LAC· What is the association between the cost of a healthy diet and the consumption of them?· Why does the region show the highest percentage of women and children who achieve dietary diversity, while presenting the highest cost of a healthy diet?· Is there an association between the high cost of the diet and the high levels of overweight and obesity in the region? |
| 10:15-10:30 | Break |
| 10:30-11:20 | Panel: Policies and actions to improve the consumption of healthy diets in LACConsidering the high cost of a healthy diet, which policies and actions contribute to increasing the consumption of healthy diets in LAC? |