New geographies: current and ancient dilemmas of hunger

Abstract

Other geographies other than the hunger geography are possible for Brazil. This is the conclusion reached by more than 30 researchers and social activists when they participated in the seminar “Geography of Hunger – 75 years later: new and old dilemmas”, organized by the Josué de Castro Chair of Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems at the Faculty of Public Health from the University of São Paulo, with the support of many organizations. It is necessary to discuss the Josué de Castro´s work as it is a classic reference to understand and overcome the current rising rates of hunger and to contribute for the narratives dispute around the phenomenon that presents itself through distinct political-ideological projects. There were four major agreements that the event presented: the importance of the role of the State in reversing the situation of hunger; inequalities as a cause and effect of unsustainable food systems and hunger; the expansion of production and the modernization of agriculture took place by maintaining and deepening land concentration, with loss of biodiversity and without commitment to the production of real and food for the population; in addition to hunger being considered a political-ideological project in a country of abundance. It is necessary to build spaces to mobilize academia, public managers, civil society organizations and activists committed to a transformative agenda around hunger and its current and former dilemmas.