Food Security Measurements and Indicators

Food & Nutrition Security

• Food availability is increasingly derived from imports : food import dependence, loss of foreign exchange and increased consumption of processed calorie dense foods leading to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and places a burden on the fragile health care systems. • Accessibility High levels of income inequality and unemployment result in a high proportion (> than 20%) of the population living below the national poverty line despite the income classification. • Food utilization is of course affected by capacity to purchase, food choices and food preparation. High priced quality food is out of reach of the poor and unemployed. Food choices of these groups often favour of inferior products (imported processed canned meats and fried foods) that contribute to the high levels of obesity and NCDs observed in the region. • Stability Caribbean region’s risk due to the high occurrence of tropical storms, floods, droughts and earthquakes and now COVID-19 and volcanic activity.

Caribbean Prevalence of Under & Over-Nutrition: 1991-2015

35

30

25

20

15

10

% of population

5

0

1991199319951997199920012003200520072009201120132015

-5

-10

1 Caribbean Prevalence of Undernourishment (%) Caribbean Prevalence of Overnourishment %

24