Food Security and Food Safety Challenges in Venezuela

Venezuela is facing a political and economic crisis with strict governmental and military control over all stages of the food chain, as on importations. As a result, agri-food production, food security, food safety, food industries, food patterns and even the population's right to food have been affected. The serious effects of the food crisis on the health of Venezuelans is of high concern specifically on vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, children, and the elderly. With an unstable and deficient food supply (a limited offer of brands and fresh products), and galloping hyperinflation, the population depends highly on social programs of distribution and food supply through the Local Supply and Production Committee (Clap), in which consumers do not exert any decision-making power whatsoever, whether preference, nutrition, health, taste, or convenience, and whose discriminatory political use has been documented. A humanitarian emergency in Venezuela has been reported by several UN agencies and NGOs. More than 4 million people have left the country. Venezuela’s crisis is also affecting researchers. While science is considered to be under siege, however, the scientific community continues to report and furnish documentary evidence on the situation. This Research Topic is not only timely, but represents an extraordinary opportunity to make visible Venezuela’s situation - which is considered unique in a country outside of war - in order to learn from science-based analysis how food systems can be affected by multiple factors and to help establish a framework to address the issues Venezuela is currently facing, issues that other countries may confront in future. Prominent researchers will participate, tackling matters of food security in terms of the dimensions that define the concept considering aspects of sustainability of the agri-food system, the national economy, food production, food safety challenges, diets for the population with emphasis on vulnerable groups, health, nutrition and the right to food in Venezuela.