Public Policies to Fight Food Insecurity and Hunger: public communication as a strategic factor for citizenship

Experiences of the USP Working Group Public Policies to combat food insecurity and hunger.

Abstract

This article focuses on the role of Communication in the context of other areas of knowledge related to the issue of combating food insecurity and hunger in the context of the Brazilian reality. In order to contextualise this problem, a descriptive analysis of food and hunger issues is presented, based on data from the United Nations Organisation, followed by the need to establish public policies to combat the severity of hunger and food insecurity. Using a propositional case as a reference, it describes the work developed by the Working Group "USP Public Policies to Combat Food Insecurity and Hunger" (2021-2022), created by the University of São Paulo, which culminated in the delivery of the final report in 2023 with 39 propositions. It highlights Organisational Communication as strategic and comprehensive and presents the main conceptions of Public Communication and its applications as an essential factor in the defence of the public interest. Based on bibliographic research and the methodology adopted in the strategic communication planning process, it describes how Public Communication activities were carried out in connection with the other areas of knowledge of this Working Group to disseminate public policies related to the themes of healthy eating, food insecurity and the fight against hunger. It demonstrates how communicative actions have contributed to the University of São Paulo making public to society, public authorities and other public and private institutional organisations the results of the work of the USP Public Policies Working Group and its proposals. This experience seeks to demonstrate how Public Communication, understood as a strategic factor, can make a difference in the defence of the public interest and the right to food as a right of citizenship.