Four specialists gathered at the Centro Cultural CEINA in the Santiago Metropolitan Region to examine the role of academia in protecting the right to food in Latin America and the Caribbean. During the XXI Congreso Latinoamericano de Nutrición (SLAN 2026), university researchers and representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations debated the relationship between scientific research, legislation and public policies across the region.
The symposium, titled “Reflexión, avances y proyecciones ciencia-política: incidencia académica para el derecho a la alimentación en América Latina y el Caribe,” brought together specialists to assess current legislative challenges. Doctora Catalina González represented both the Observatorio del Derecho a la Alimentación de Chile (ODA-Chile) and the Universidad de Valparaíso during the proceedings.
Translating Evidence Into Chilean Statutory Frameworks
As a professor in the Escuela de Nutrición y Dietética at the Facultad de Farmacia and national coordinator for ODA-Chile, González delivered a targeted lecture examining legislative bottlenecks. Her presentation, “Desafíos legislativos en Chile y ALC para resguardar el derecho a la alimentación y sistemas alimentarios sostenibles,” analyzed bills currently in process before the Poder Legislativo chileno alongside initiatives already promulgated.
The evaluation considered relevance for public health and political viability, as well as the main lessons from these legislative processes. By contrasting these domestic developments with regulatory advances in other Latin American countries, the presentation identified common challenges for strengthening the protection of the right to food in the region.
University Observatories Contribute to Evidence-Based Public Policies
- Evidence-Based Policy: Public policies should be based on evidence to help guarantee the right to food.
- Sustainable Food Systems: Legislative frameworks address food security and sustainable food systems.
- Academic Oversight: University observatories contribute to the development of public policies based on evidence.
The wider SLAN 2026 meeting operated under the overarching theme “Transformando los sistemas alimentarios en América Latina: de la evidencia a la acción.” The symposium was structured in four complementary presentations. They covered the trajectory and impact of the Observatorio del Derecho a la Alimentación de América Latina y el Caribe (ODA-ALC), the evolution of food insecurity in Chile and the region and its gaps and challenges, legislative challenges, and experiences of national observatories that have contributed to evidence-based public policies.
| Symposium Focus Area | Lead Institution / Representative | Primary Objective |
|---|---|---|
| Regional Network Impact | ODA-ALC | Present the trajectory and impact of the regional observatory. |
| Insecurity Gaps | Symposium specialists | Examine the evolution of food insecurity in Chile and the region, including its gaps and challenges. |
| Legislative Obstacles | Doctora Catalina González (ODA-Chile / Universidad de Valparaíso) | Analyze pending bills and promulgated food laws for political and public health viability. |
| Observatory Models | National observatories | Present experiences that have contributed to evidence-based public policies. |
