In its public accounting delivered today, the network of Food Banks of Colombia (Abaco) reported that during 2023 the Food Banks purchased 8,325 tons of healthy foods and prevented another 34,777 tons of products suitable for human consumption from being wasted. of which 18,253 were rescued from the industrial sector, 7,750 were saved through the agricultural surplus recovery program, 3,971 from supermarket chains, 3,101 from market places and 1,879 from the hotel, casino and restaurant sector.
In total, 41,854 tons of products were delivered, improving the nutritional conditions of 1.1 million people in vulnerable conditions.
Currently 14.4 million people in Colombia have insufficient food consumption, which means that they do not access foods rich in vitamins such as fruits and vegetables every day and that they never or almost never access foods rich in proteins such as meat or dairy products. .
Photo:Abacus
The Hunger Map of the World Food Program indicates that currently 14.4 million people have insufficient food consumption, which is why they cannot access foods rich in vitamins such as fruits and vegetables on a daily basis and they never or almost never access foods rich in proteins. such as meat and dairy products, with the departments of Meta, Vaupés, Guaviare, Putumayo, Casanare, Caquetá, Amazonas, Arauca, Guainía and Vichada being the most affected with 47% of their population affected by this problem.
Juan Carlos Buitrago, director of Abaco, pointed out that: “with the food rescued and purchased by the 25 Food Banks, we managed to deliver on average 17.5% of the daily energy and nutrient recommendations to 1,164,483 people in vulnerable conditions. We increased food deliveries by 10% compared to 2022 and despite all the effort, we are barely rescuing 0.4% of all the food that is wasted in Colombia.”
Buitrago added that: “hunger affects the development and economy of the country, it is a problem that concerns us all and that is why from the Food Banks of Colombia we invite all people and companies to work together. Today we are a network of more than 1,600 donor organizations and 4,200 volunteers, but we can be many more. “Everyone who wants to join this cause can look for their nearest food bank so that together we can build a future without hunger.”
The Bogotá Food Bank is located on cl. 19A no. 32-50 of Bogotá.
Photo:Courtesy of the Food Bank
For more information on how to volunteer, donate or to download your management report, you can go to www.abaco.org.co
EDWIN CAICEDO | LIFE TODAY EDITOR
